Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Since approximately 75% of women and 50% of men have no symptoms, most people infected with chlamydia are not aware of their infections and therefore may not seek health care.
When diagnosed, chlamydia can be easily treated and cured by conventional medical means. Untreated, chlamydia can cause severe and costly reproductive and other health problems which include both short- and long-term consequences, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which is the critical link to infertility, and potentially fatal tubal pregnancy.
Signs, symptoms & indicators of STD Chlamydia
Genital sores
Urinary discharge
Conditions that suggest STD Chlamydia
Chlamydia
Female Infertility
As many as 40% of women with untreated chlamydia will develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Undiagnosed PID caused by chlamydia is common, resulting in a 20% infertility rate.
Counter Indicators
Risk factors for STD Chlamydia
History of chlamydia
History of urinary discharge
STD Chlamydia can lead to
Increased Risk of Cervical Cancer
In a five year follow-up study, women whose blood had shown signs of infection with any type of chlamydia were about 2 1/2 times more likely to develop cervical cancer, compared with those who had had no signs of infection. Women with one particular subtype of chlamydia in their blood (serotype G) were 6 times more likely to develop cervical cancer, and several other subtypes were linked to risks 3 to 4 times that of uninfected women.
Recommendations for STD Chlamydia
Antibiotics
Chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics. A single dose of azithromycin or a week of doxycycline BID are the most commonly used treatments. All sex partners must also be treated.
Ozone / Oxidative Therapy
Chlamydia is one of the many infections that have been treated successfully with ozone. Vaginal insufflation in females is the usual route of administration.
Key
| Weak or unproven link |
| Proven definite or direct link |
| Strongly counter-indicative |
| Very strongly or absolutely counter-indicative |
| Likely to help |
| Highly recommended |
Glossary
Chlamydia
A sexually-transmitted disease that is often without symptoms. Some females experience a white vaginal discharge that resembles cottage cheese, a burning sensation when urinating, itching, and painful intercourse. A clear watery urethral discharge in the male probably is a chlamydia infection.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
(PID) A Purulent (pus-like) vaginal discharge with fever and lower abdominal pain.
Cancer
Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.