Chlamydia is a common transmitted disease (STD). It caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, which can damage a woman’s reproductive organs. Name “chlamydia” is derived from the Greek word “chlamys,” which was a kind of cloak worn by men in ancient Greece. Chlamydia is one of the most widespread bacterial STDs in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 2.8 million people are infected each year. Chlamydia bacteria live in fluid and in semen.

Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur “silently” before a woman ever recognizes a problem. Chlamydia is known as a “silent” disease because about 75% of infected women and about 50% of infected men have no symptoms. Even if symptoms are present, they may be mild and last only a few days, and may not be noticed or considered significant.

Symptoms usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after you are infected. Those who do have symptoms may have an abnormal discharge (mucus or pus) and may experience pain while urinating. These early symptoms may be very mild. In women, bacteria can infect the cervix and urinary tract. If the bacteria move into the fallopian tubes, they can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can lead to infertility if untreated.

In men, chlamydia can infect the urinary tract and the epididymis, causing epididymitis (inflammation of the reproductive area near the testicles). Chlamydia also can cause discharge from the penis of an infected man.

“Officially, it [Chlamydia] is a bacterium, but it is more like a virus in being very small and unable to multiply outside living cells. Chlamydia is not life-threatening, but it can do serious damage to a woman’s Fallopian tubes. If this happens, the woman could become infertile.”… - EmbarrasingProblems.co.uk

Causes of Chlamydial Infections

• Chlamydia trachomatis.
• Chlamydia pneumonia.
• Chlamydia psittaci.
• Unprotected sex (oral, vaginal or anal)

Symptoms of Chlamydial Infections

• Irritation with discharge
• Cough and fever can occur in pneumonia (although the classic description is afebrile)
• Eye discharge and/or swelling develop in conjunctivitis
• Lower abdomen tender to palpation

Treatment & Prevention of Chlamydial Infections
1.Chlamydial infection is treated with oral antibiotics.

2.Persons with chlamydia should abstain from intercourse until they and their partners have completed treatment, otherwise re-infection is possible.

3.Having multiple infections increases a woman’s risk of serious reproductive health complications, including infertility. Retesting should be considered for women, especially adolescents, three to four months after treatment. Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of chlamydia.

4.Use condoms correctly every time you have sex.

5.Limit the number of partners, and do not go back and forth between partners. Practice abstinence, or limit contact to one uninfected partner.

6.Common methods of birth control, like the oral contraceptive pill or the contraceptive shot or implant, do not give women protection from STDs. Women who use these methods should also use condoms every time they have sex to prevent STDs.

“Some of the young women have never even heard of the disease that threatens to sterilize them. They wonder, in their classic youthful way, how this possibly could be happening to them.” - Source: Chlamydia: the cruel fertility thief - Seattle Times.

Juliet Cohen writes articles on rare skin disorders and health disorders. She also writes articles on health care.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

From generation to generation infertility has been a condition that plagues couples worldwide. It is a condition that transcends race and color. Medically speaking, infertility is a disease of the reproductive system. A couple can be diagnosed with infertility if conception is not achieved after one year of unprotected and well timed sexual intercourse. Infertility could also be diagnosed if a woman had suffered several miscarriages (recurrent pregnancy loss).

Who is at risk? What you should know about infertility is that, it is a major heartache and life crisis. It involves losses for both the individual and society at large. Being a medical situation, both male and female, husband and wife are at risk of infertility. The problems leading to infertility could predominantly be from one of the partners, in which case it is called either the male factor (if the problem is with the male) or the female factor (if the female reproductive system is diseased), or it could be a combination of problems with both partners. In some other cases, the cause could be rightly described as unexplained infertility.

Infertility is therefore not a ‘woman’s problem’ as is believed in some cultures. In fact, approximately 40% of cases of infertility are due to the male factor, 40% due to the female factor, while in the other cases it is either a combined factor or unexplained The cause of infertility is said to be unexplained, if after medical examination, nothing medically serious could be found to be wrong with either of the couple and they still cannot achieve conception after several efforts.

Generally, most physicians advise couples not to worry yet about infertility unless they fall into any of these categories:

- They are under 35 years old and have tried to conceive without success for over 12 months.

- They are over 35 and have tried to conceive without success for over 6 months

- They are over 30 and have a previous history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), painful menstrual periods, recurrent pregnancy loss, irregular menstrual cycles or a partner suffers from low sperm count.

If you fall in any of these categories, it would be wise to consult your ob/gyn or an infertility specialist.

Can Infertility be Prevented?
In every medical situation, prevention is tied to the knowledge of the underlying cause of the particular condition. In some cases, steps may be taken to prevent some types of infertility, especially with respect to some established risk factors i.e. factors that induce some types of infertility. Except in cases like this, infertility is in most cases, unpreventable. You will understand this better, if you remember that there are still several “unexplained” infertility problems. There isn’t so much you can do to prevent what you do not know. Some of the known risk factors that may contribute to infertility include:

• Weight problems
• Age
• Tubal diseases
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
• Endometriosis
• Smoking
• Alcohol

It is known that smoking and alcohol are very bad for fertility. Cutting down on caffeine would also do you a lot of good. Fertility and healthy pregnancy (when it does occur) requires you to maintain a healthy body and the best physical shape possible.

Treatment Options -
A variety of medication and options exist for tackling infertility. As with other medical conditions, it is always better to research your options, understand the medication involved and its purpose. With more knowledge, you can better discuss with your physician the setting up of a specific treatment plan that addresses your particular problem.

Treatment options available for infertility include, ovulation inducers, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy and surgery (in some cases).

Always remember that infertility has no major signs or symptoms associated with it. Paying attention to your body and getting regular checkups will be vital for your fertility.

About the author:
Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Infertility

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