It is official, chlamydia has now become the most prevalent sexually transmitted Disease (STD in the world). This STD effects both male and females however, women are more prone to infections than men. This particular STD develops from a bacteria that is contracted when an individual has unprotected sex with a person who is infected. This commonly happens through unprotected sex.

In terms of how many people have this disease in the USA it is estimated that over 2 1/2 million are infected every year. This growing infection rate can be linked to a variety of factors. Improved screening of the disease is definitely one factor that has made an impact. This is because much more men and women are being diagnosed than ever before. Another reason for the rise is that more people are engaging in sex without a condom which also increases the risk of becoming infected.

Common Symptoms

One of the key challenges with this sexually transmitted disease is that the symptom’s do not always show up in people who have become infected. There are a number of estimates provided by medical authorities that state that over fifty per cent do not have any symptoms of an infection. Consequently, many infected people are infecting others without both of them knowing it.

In saying that there are symptoms which are unique to this disease. For example, men can have a sticky fluid leaking from the tip of the penis. They can also experience discomfort when urinating. Another possible symptom is an inflammation of the male genital region. In females the symptoms can also appear as fluid discharge or cramps in the lower stomach area.

Testing Procedures

Those who are in a high risk category of infection should attend their local clinic and request an STD test. Chlamydia screening for men and women is quite straight forward. It is common for a qualified nurse to perform the test and for men this will require a swab sample of the contaminated region. This procedure can be painful and embarrassing for certain men especially, if the penis has become inflamed. Therefore, a less embarrassing alternative is to use at home test kits for all STDs and perform the testing at home.

If the disease is left untreated then it could lead to more serious health conditions. These health complications are more serious in females. Conditions such as PID can occur and this can increase the risk of the women becoming infertile. To prevent this from happening both men and women should get tested regularly if they think they are at risk of an infection.