Chlamydia

Many people don't have symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they usually appear one to three weeks after sexual contact with an infected person.

Symptoms may include:

• Abnormal discharge from the vagina, penis or anus
• Pain when you urinate
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain in the lower belly
• Bleeding between periods or after intercourse
• Fever and general tiredness
• Pain and swelling of the glands at the opening of the vagina or pain in the scrotum
• Conjunctivitis

A certain kind of bacteria causes chlamydia. It can spread from one partner to another through different types of sexual contact. This includes vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you're pregnant and infected, you can pass it to your baby during delivery.

To diagnose chlamydia, your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and your sexual history. You may also have a physical exam. Several types of tests can be used to diagnose chlamydia. Most use a sample of urine or a swab from the cervix, vagina, or rectum.

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. Early treatment can cure the infection and help prevent long-term problems.

To make sure that the medicine works, you need to take all of it as directed. After you start taking the medicine, you'll need to avoid sex for a week.

As soon as you find out that you have chlamydia, be sure to let your sex partner(s) know. Experts recommend that you tell everyone you've had sex with in the past 2 months. If you haven't had sex in the past 2 months, contact the last person you had sex with.

You and your sex partner(s) need to take the antibiotics. If only one person takes the medicine, you may keep passing the infection back and forth.