Chlamydia

Chlamydia is an STI caused by bacteria [1]A microscopic organism composed of a single cell. Many bacteria can cause disease in humans. that infects the cervix in women and can travel upwards through the reproductive organs to the fallopian tubes. It is particularly important to screen for and to treat. It is readily transmissible, highly prevalent in the general Australian population particularly in people under 25 and if left untreated, it can give rise to serious illness like pelvic infl ammatory disease (PID) and can compromise your fertility. Because it is often asymptomatic in both men and women, people often don’t know that they have it.
The only way to know for sure if you have Chlamydia is to have a test.

This involves either a urine test or taking a cell specimen from the vagina using a swab. This can be done on its own, as part of other testing for STIs [2][Sexually Transmissible (or Transmitted) Infection] Infections spread by the transfer of organisms from person to person during sexual contact. Also called venereal disease (VD) (an older public health term) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). , or as an extra test when you have a Pap smear.

Treatment is simple – a course of antibiotics which can either be taken as a single dose or as a longer course. Your doctor will advise you on the best treatment approach for your situation. If you are prescribed the longer course, it is important that you take every tablet and that your partner is treated too if he or she is infected. You and your partner should avoid vaginal, oral and/or anal sex until you have both completed the course of treatment.