What is it?
An infection of the private parts is called a sexually transmissible infection (STI).
STIs are caused by germs getting inside when you have sex with someone with an STI.
You can get private help and treatment if you have an STI.
Chlamydia (say clam-ide-ee-a)
Chlamydia is an STI that can make you sick.
A person can have chlamydia without knowing it (no symptoms). It is sometimes called the 'silent STI' for that reason.
Women might get a yellow or milky white discharge, and a burning senseation when passing urine (pee). Women might also get, cramps, pain below the tummy, bleeding between periods or after sex. If women and their partners don't get treated, chlamydia can cause infection and scarring in the womb and tubes. This is called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). If this happens a woman might not be able to have a baby.
How do you get it?
Sexual contact - oral, vaginal or anal (bum) sex.
Can be passed onto babies durning birth.
Condoms protect you from catching chlamydia.
What if I have it?
Chlamydia can be tested by urine (pee). The clinic will give you a jar to fill with urine and will test it for chlamydia germs. Sometimes if there is a discharge the doctor of nurse may need to take a swab.
If you have chlamydia, you will be given some pills (antibiotics) that will treat it.
People you have sex with
It is really good to let people you have had sex with know you have been treated for an STI. If you are too shame, the clinic can do it for you without telling anyone your name.
If your sex partners are not treated, you may get that STI back and have to get treated again.
What if I don't get treated or don't know I've got it?
The chlamydia germs can stay in your body for a long time. So even if you have no pain or other signs of chlamydia, it can still be damaging you inside. If you don't get treated, you can pass chlamydia onto anyone you have sex with.
The future
Chlamydia can damage a women's insides, making it really difficult or impossible to have babies. The earlier you find and treat infections the easier it is, and less damage is done to your body. Go to the clinic for a check up.