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Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection that occurs in both men and women. Chlamydia can also effect newborn children.This infection is caused by the pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. It is an STI that can be cured with antibiotics. In the United States there are around 3 million reported infections yearly, with 23,000 of those cases coming from Mississippi.

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At times, men and women can be asymptomatic and go untreated for several weeks. When symptoms do arise, here is what to look for: painful urination, pelvic pain, abnormal discharge, etc. You may experience a burning sensation in the urethra and some men experience inflammation of the testes. In addition to those symptoms, chlamydia can effect the eyes as well. Many have reported contracting chlamydial conjunctivitis, which is irritation of the eye caused by the STI.

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Luckily, chlamydia is curable with the help of antibiotics. After being diagnosed by a health professional the infection can go away within a few days. The most common antibiotic prescribed for the treatment of chlamydia is doxycycline. Doxycycline is used best for killing bacteria and stopping its growth. This is why it is used for bacterial infections like this one.

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Sadly, newborns can contract this disease from the birth canal. They can develop respiratory tract infections and a form of conjunctivitis. Both of these are treatable but can cause much damage on a newborn. The form of conjunctivitis that they develop can lead to blindness. For the mother, chlamydia can even cause infertility.

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Chlamydia is preventable with the right tools used. When engaging in intercourse, male and female contraceptives reduce the risk of getting the infection. Contraceptives are not guaranteed to prevent an STI. Another method is only engaging in intercourse with someone who is not infected. A mutual agreement of only being with each other can eliminate the risk of a STI as well.

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Chlamydia can be detrimental to your health. For women, it can spread throughout the body into the uterus and uterine (fallopian) tubes. The tissue will then become scarred and can prevent fertilization. For men, tissue in the efferent seminal ducts can become scarred, also preventing fertilization. In both cases, if left untreated for a long period of time can lead to infertility.