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    Lois McGuire, R.N., M.S.N., W.H.N.P.

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  • March 24, 2009

    Chlamydia rates on the rise

    By Lois McGuire, R.N., M.S.N., W.H.N.P.

7 comments posted

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rates of chlamydia infection increased in 2007 for the seventh consecutive year. In 2007, 1.1 million chlamydia diagnoses were reported. This is a 7.5 percent increase from 2006!

This increase could be partially due to more testing, especially in women, and to the use of more sensitive tests. However, health officials believe that the reported number of diagnoses might not reflect the actual number of infections, which could be closer to 3 million.

Underreporting is common because many people are unaware of their infection and do not seek testing. That's unfortunate, because while chlamydia infection may be silent, it's also serious. Chlamydia can cause irreversible damage to a woman's reproductive tract, affecting her ability to have babies.

So what is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia primarily targets the cells of mucous membranes including the urethra (both male and female), vagina, cervix and endometrium (lining of the uterus). It can also target the mouth and throat. Infections in the mouth and throat happen infrequently. Ejaculation is not necessary to spread chlamydia.

More facts and statistics

  • Chlamydia is a very common STD.
  • Women between the ages of 15 and 24 years have the highest chlamydia rate of all age groups and both sexes. Teenage girls and young women are most at risk because the cervix (opening to the uterus) is not fully mature at that age, so it's more susceptible to infections.
  • Men have a much lower rate of chlamydia than do women. In 2007, men between the ages of 20 and 24 years had the highest rate of chlamydia infection among males in all age groups.
  • Black women between the ages of 15 and 19 have the highest rate of chlamydia. Blacks make up 12 percent of the U.S. population but account for 48 percent of the chlamydia cases. Several factors account for this disparity, including lack of access to health care and distrust of the health-care system.
  • Other racial disparities are also apparent. Chlamydia is 4.5 times higher in Hispanics than in whites and 2.9 times higher in American Indian/Alaska Natives than in whites.

Symptoms of chlamydia
Symptoms can be mild to severe. Men and women experience different symptoms. If a person does develop symptoms, they usually occur within one to three weeks after contact with someone who has chlamydia.

Women may not experience any chlamydia symptoms. In fact, about 50 to 75 percent of women have no symptoms. The most common symptoms are vaginal discharge or itching, bleeding between periods, or pain with urination. A woman may also experience pain during sexual intercourse, low abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, and fever.

Up to 30 to 50 percent of men have no symptoms. Men typically develop urethritis, which causes pain during urination and a discharge from the penis. In a small number of men, infection with chlamydia can cause epididymitis, with testicular pain, heaviness and tenderness, and swelling of the scrotum.

Proctitis usually occurs in men having sex with men. This is an infection of the anus or rectum. Symptoms may include anal or rectal pain, discharge, a persistent desire to move the bowels and constipation.

Stay tuned for my next blog entry, where I will talk about chlamydia testing, treatment, complications and screening.

7 comments posted

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  • November 9, 2009 5:18 p.m.

    I need more info please. What other ways can a person get chlamydia? Is it possible to have it for YEARS and not know it? If I truly have only had one partner for 5 years and he says he hasn't had any other partners either, is it possible one of us was infected some other way???

    - Jill

  • August 28, 2009 8:27 p.m.

    Hi i am 15 years old and i believe i have chlamdyia i got an call from my docotr today and she told me i have an std. i was so hurt and shock. i mean i been with this dude er since i wuz 11 going on 12 and he wuz my first sme lyk my best fren um so hurt ryt now i mean idk wut to du ii am so sad...........ion no who to tlk to about it i guess i juz hve to hold it n and wait for tomorrow an c wut DR.moorehouse tell me

    - keeshae

  • July 23, 2009 11:46 p.m.

    I can relate to Annie's situation. I've been married 41 years, never strayed but continuosly had a diagnosis of chlamydia, yeast infection for many years (age 20-33). I started having sex with my fiance at 20 and had a hysterectomy at 33 after several D&Cs, finally started bleeding for 35 days straight, was told it was endometriosis and then my repro system was taken. I was reading some literature of my granddaughter (15) and it suddenly dawned on me that I had had an STD over and over. The damned doctor Never said a word to me. My marriage has been miserable for the last 25 years and I went through unneccessary surgeries if only someone had told me! I've always felt that I was pretty intelligent and up on health issues - somehow I was blinded to this. Thank God my granddaughter has the opportunity to know - if only she will listen and heed.

    - margaret

  • April 2, 2009 3:46 p.m.

    With the first checkup after the birth of my third child in 1973, I was told I had chlamydia. My husband had been my only partner in my life. Through the years, I again had flareups of this "infection" but was never told this was an STD. I always thought this was some type of vaginal infection. Several years later, I had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease for 8 months, which resulted in a hysterectomy after numerous unsuccessful hospital stays with intravenous antibiotics, D&C's, etc. Two years later, again a flare-up of this "infection". This time the doctor tested both my husband and myself after my asking how I got this? We were told most likely my husband had given this "present" he called it, to me. Still, we were not told of this being an STD. It seems that doctors just did not want to touch on this subject. I divorced my husband after 16 years of marriage, but still did not find out about the STD truth till years later and seeing something on a news program and then researching. When finding out the truth, it angered me for not being told the truth all those years. Obviously, doctors and people alike, are much more open now about so many health issues. Thank goodness! It is about time!!

    - Annie

  • April 1, 2009 4:45 p.m.

    I need more info please. What other ways can a person get chlamydia? Is it possible to have it for YEARS and not know it? If I truly have only had one partner for 9 years and he says he hasn't had any other partners either (please don't judge me for believing him!) is it possible one of us was infected some other way???

    - Dear

  • March 31, 2009 11:15 a.m.

    People must be aware that unsafe sex can cause various Sexually Transmitted Diseases including Gonorrhea. As Gonorrhea is rising steeply so people must be aware about this disease. I have made a blog about Gonorrhea information and treatment to assist all my friends who want to live a healthy life.

    - Mary

  • March 26, 2009 9:55 p.m.

    year. i met more people who infected chlamydia when I check my favorite STD dating site" STDpal.com".

    - hgirl

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