How can chlamydia be contracted

Anyone who has sex can get chlamydia through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. However, sexually active young people are at a higher risk of getting chlamydia. This is due to behaviors and biological factors common among young people. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are also at risk since chlamydia can spread through oral and anal sex. Have an honest and open talk with your health care provider. Ask whether you should be tested for chlamydia or other STDs. If you are a sexually active woman younger than 25 years, you should get a test for chlamydia every year.

If you are an older woman with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has an STD, you should get a test for chlamydia every year. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men; as well as pregnant women should also get tested for chlamydia. If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection to your baby during delivery.

This could cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your newborn. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to deliver your baby too early.

If you are pregnant, you should get tested for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit. Testing and treatment are the best ways to prevent health problems. Most people who have chlamydia have no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may not appear until several weeks after you have sex with an infected partner. Even when chlamydia causes no symptoms, it can damage your reproductive system. Men and women can also get infected with chlamydia in their rectum.

This happens either by having receptive anal sex, or by spread from another infected site such as the vagina.

While these infections often cause no symptoms, they can cause. You should be examined by your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms or if your partner has an STD or symptoms of an STD. STD symptoms can include an unusual sore, a smelly discharge, burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods. Sex without a condom and unprotected oral sex are the main ways a chlamydia infection can be transmitted. Newborn babies can acquire chlamydia from their mother during birth.

Find out more about how chlamydia is shared between individuals. In , more than 1. However, many cases go unreported, so the real number of chlamydia infections every year may be closer to 3 million. Men and women can both get the infection, but more cases in women are reported.

Infection rates are highest among younger women, with the highest rates of infection occurring in women between ages 15 and The CDC recommends that all sexually active women ages 25 years and younger get screened for chlamydia every year, as well as older women with risk factors like multiple or new partners. Other risk factors include having had an STI in the past, or currently have an infection, because this could lower resistance. Rates for chlamydia and other STIs have been climbing in recent years.

See the new statistics and groups that are most at risk. In this case, the main symptoms are often discharge, pain, and bleeding from this area. Having oral sex with someone who has the infection raises the risk for getting chlamydia in the throat.

Symptoms can include a sore throat , cough , or fever. In some women, the infection can spread to the fallopian tubes , which may cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease PID. PID is a medical emergency. Chlamydia can also infect the rectum. Women may not experience symptoms if they have a chlamydia infection in the rectum. If symptoms of a rectal infection do occur, however, they may include rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Additionally, women can develop a throat infection if they perform oral sex on someone with the infection.

The good news is that chlamydia is easy to treat. Azithromycin is an antibiotic usually prescribed in a single, large dose. Doxycycline is an antibiotic that must be taken twice per day for about one week.

Other antibiotics may also be given. No matter which antibiotic is prescribed, dosage instructions should be followed carefully to make sure the infection clears up fully. This can take up to two weeks, even with the single-dose medications.

Chlamydia is caused by a bacterial infection. The only true cure for this type of infection is antibiotics. But some alternative treatments may help ease symptoms. Home remedies for chlamydia that may be effective for symptoms, not the infection itself include:. If there are none, they may ask why you have concerns.

If symptoms are present, the doctor may perform a physical exam. This lets them observe any discharge, sores, or unusual spots that may be related to a possible infection. The most effective diagnostic test for chlamydia is to swab the vagina in women and to test urine in men. Results may take several days. If the test returns positive, a follow-up appointment and treatment options will be discussed.

STI testing can be done in several ways. The best way to prevent chlamydia is to avoid sex without a condom or other barrier method with someone who has the disease. Routine testing for chlamydia and other STIs, such as HIV and herpes , is also important for prevention, early detection, and treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC advises sexually active women under 25 years old to get screened for chlamydia every year.

If you temporarily avoid kissing or change the way you kiss during a bout of illness, you could lower your chances for getting the condition. Information on sexually transmitted infections specifically for women. Read about gender specific symptoms, prevention and tests. STIs can pose unique problems for people who are pregnant which is why it's important to prevent or properly treat them when they occur.

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