What is Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection?
Chlamydia is the commonest sexually transmitted bacterial infection which affects about 1 in 20 women overall. Women under 25 are at highest risk. The bacteria causing the infection called Chlamydia trachomatis is passed on through unprotected sexual intercourse. Not everyone who catches Chlamydia will have symptoms but if you have unprotected sex with someone who has Chlamydia you run the risk of being infected. This may result in: 1) Development of the symptoms. 2) No symptoms but you may carry the organism and pass it on to someone else or 3) Chronic infection where the organism may cause long- term complications without any sign of acute symptoms. In women, symptoms, if present are often ‘non-specific’ i.e. they can be mistaken for something else. These symptoms include changes in vaginal discharge, pain on passing urine and spotting between periods or bleeding after sex. Chlamydia can infect the uterus and block the fallopian tubes, causing infertility, even in the absence of acut