Chlamydia and Teenagers
By Teresa Ambord
Does the word chlamydia mean anything to you? If you are a sexually active teenager, or the parent of a sexually active teen, you need to be aware of the facts of this disease. It is the most common and most invisible STD in the United States. And though anyone is susceptible, young people are the most likely to contract it.
Not Just Female Trouble
Chlamydia is becoming well known as a female disease, but males can contract it too. And if left untreated, both males and females can become sterile as a result.
Arm Yourself With Facts
What are the symptoms? This is the scary part: very likely, there will be no symptoms. In fact, 75% of females and 50% of males carrying chlamydia have no symptoms, which accounts for the rapid spread of the disease. Every year, 4 million people contract chlamydia, and of those, 100,000 become sterile.
When Symptoms Do Appear
In women:
- bleeding between menstrual periods
- vaginal bleeding after intercourse
- abdominal pain
- painful intercourse
- low-grade fever
- painful urination
- the urge to urinate more than usual
- cervical or rectal inflammation
- abnormal vaginal discharge
- mucopurulent cervicitis (MPC) - a yellowish discharge from the cervix that may have a foul odor
In men:
- pus or watery or milky discharge from the penis
- pain or burning feeling while urinating
- swollen or tender testicles
- rectal inflammation
Who Is Most Likely To Get Chlamydia?
- people who have a number of different sex partners
- people whose sex partners have a number of different sex partners
- people who don't use condoms
- people with a history of other sexually transmitted infections
- sexually abused children
But We Use Condoms...
Condoms do limit the spread of chlamydia, but keep in mind that condoms have a general failure rate of 14.7%. And the failure rate among young people is greater than others, due to inexperience and inappropriate use.
How Can I Find Out If I’m Infected?
Male or female, you must have a doctor’s exam and possibly a urine test. If you are sexually active, get tested once a year. For females, a pap test may reveal the need for chlamydia tests, but they cannot be relied upon to discover the presence of the disease. You need to be tested for chlamydia itself.
I’m Infected. Now What?
Chlamydia is curable with simple antibiotic therapy. If you are being treated for other STD’s don’t assume that that treatment will also cure the chlamydia. You must see your doctor to get the specific therapy you need.
