According to the World Health Organization, more than 374 million new STIs occur every year worldwide. Out of these chlamydia alone accounts for more than 1/4 of the cases among adults between the ages of 15 and 49.

In fact, as per Dr Orchideh Alexander, an obstetrics and gynaecology physician with Atlantic Health in New Jersey," chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States" In 2023, more than 1.6 million new cases were reported for the disease per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia refers to a group of bacteria that includes species such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia psittaci. Out of these, Chlamydia trachomatis causes infection in humans.

Does chlamydia have any symptoms?


According to Dr Michael Shen, an internal medicine physician at NYC Health + Hospitals, "About 80% of people with chlamydia don't develop symptoms." However, when symptoms do appear they occur within one to several weeks after exposure.

There can be pain or burning during urination, abnormal discharge such as mucus or pus from the penis or vagina, pain at the cervix, testicular or rectal pain and in some cases infection in the uterus that causes lower abdominal pain and fever.

What are the causes of chlamydia ?
The bacteria that cause the infection spread through direct contact. This most commonly happens through sexual contact, but is not limited to vaginal, anal and oral sex. Other less common causes can be transmission from mother to child during childbirth, which can lead to eye infections or pneumonia in the newborn.

Certain groups face a higher risk of spreading or getting chlamydia: adolescents and young adults, people with multiple or new sexual partners, those who don't use condoms and those with partners who have STIs.

Is chlamydia treatable?


Yes, the sexually transmitted infection is curable with antibiotics that are typically taken for about a week. With proper treatment, the infection can clear in about one to two weeks. People are retested between four weeks and three months later to confirm that a reinfection has not occurred.

Along with antibiotics, people getting a treatment can make the use of warm compresses or heating pads for abdominal pain, stay hydrated and get enough rest for ideal recovery.