Chlamydia is a type of bacteria. It can cause sterility in women and men. In women, it infects the cervix and can spread to the urethra, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. It can cause bladder infections and serious pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and sterility. In men, chlamydia infects the urethra and may spread to the testicles, causing epididymitis, which can cause sterility.

Chlamydia can also lead to Reiter's syndrome—especially in young men. Reiter's syndrome involves eye infections, urethritis, and arthritis. One in three men who develop Reiter's syndrome become permanently disabled. In infants, chlamydia can cause pneumonia, eye infections, and blindness. Chlamydia is the most common and most invisible sexually transmitted bacterial infection in America. Three million American men and women become infected every year.

• Sexual contact (vaginal, oral or anal) with someone who has chlamydia
• Mother to child during delivery (if mother is infected)

The majority of women and many men do not have any symptoms until complications set in. Chlamydia may be in the body for a long period of time before symptoms appear. But symptoms may develop between 5 and 14 days after exposure.

Women may experience:

• Change in vaginal discharge
• Frequent, burning or painful urination
• Pain in lower abdomen
• Bleeding between menstrual periods or with/after intercourse
• Swollen, reddened and/or painful joints

Men may experience:

• Discharge from penis
• Painful or frequent urination
• Burning around the tip of penis
• Swollen, reddened and/or painful joints

• Urine sample sent to lab
• Sample of secretion from the vagina, penis or rectum sent to lab

• Antibiotics

• Can cause severe infection of the reproductive organs leading to Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Sterility for men and women (inability to have children)
• Severe infection
• Miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth
• Serious eye infections or pneumonia in newborn babies (during a vaginal delivery)
• Can spread infection to sexual partner(s)