Sex!Life! - Guide to STIs

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is:

One of the most common STIs
Can be completely symptom-free so many of us don't even know we have it.

Who has Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is on the rise in Australia, with the incidence rising by more than 80% from 1996 to 1999. In Victoria most of the infections occur in people aged between 20 and 29, with 60% of those infected being women.

What to look for:

When Chlamydia does cause symptoms in women it can appear as

Irregular bleeding
Vaginal discharge
Pain when passing urine
Pain during sex
Lower abdominal pain.

In men symptoms include

Pain when passing urine
Discharge from the penis
Pain in the testicles and scrotum.

What If I Think I Have Chlamydia?

It is important that both you and your sexual partners get tested by a doctor. The treatment is simple and often a single dose of antibiotics can clear the infection up.

It is important that you be sure that you do not have Chlamydia and if left untreated, Chlamydia can cause

Pelvic pain and infertility in women
Infection in the testicles and infertility in men.

How Can I Protect Myself From Chlamydia

Use a condom when having vaginal, anal and even oral sex.

Get yourself and your partner tested before having sex. If you are both free of the infection and you don't have other sexual partners, then you are safe.