Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It can infect both men and women and is spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. Chlamydia often has no symptoms, which is why it's sometimes called a "silent" infection.

When symptoms do occur, they may include painful urination, abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina, testicular pain in men, or abdominal pain in women. If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to more serious health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, which can cause infertility.

Additional Information

Chlamydia is one of the most frequently reported bacterial STIs. It can be easily cured with antibiotics, but many people don't realize they have it due to the lack of symptoms. This is why regular STI screening is important, especially for sexually active people.

Chlamydia can be prevented by using barrier methods like condoms during sexual activity and by limiting the number of sexual partners. If you test positive, it's crucial to inform any recent sexual partners so they can also get tested and treated if necessary.