Chlamydia is an infection spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex with an infected person carrying the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It can also spread from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal delivery.

The risk of infection increases with risky sex practices. According to the Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore, sexually active teenage girls and young women are also more prone to develop chlamydial infection as the opening of the uterus (cervix) has not fully matured. This also increases their risk of developing other sexually transmitted infections (STI), such as gonorrhoea and syphilis.

The signs and symptoms of chlamydia are mild, and often show up within 1-3 weeks, although some sufferers may not develop any symptoms at all. These include:

1. A yellowish-white vaginal discharge
2. Mild burning sensation during urination
3. Painful sexual intercourse
4. Lower abdominal or back pain, and/or
5. Bleeding after sexual intercourse or between menstrual periods.

Chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) without any symptoms in up to 40 per cent of women, which may in turn cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb). Infection during pregnancy can result in premature delivery and stillbirth.

An infected mother can also pass the infection on to her baby during vaginal delivery, resulting in infections such as pneumonia or conjunctivitis.

According to HPB. chlamydia suffererers are up to five times more at risk of HIV infection than non-sufferers. Chlamydial infection can spread to the rectum as well, resulting in inflammation, discharge and pain.

Chlamydial infection can be effectively treated with antibiotics, with the infection usually resolving within 1-2 weeks.

Ref: N18