Chlamydia, from the Greek for ‘a cloak’, is a bacterial infection caused by unprotected intercourse. When treated with bacteria the infection is attenuated but not destroyed, so the best way to prevent any further attacks is abstinence for a week after one dose and a week after the week- or fortnight-long course. Chlamydia is known as the "Silent Epidemic" because in women it may not cause any symptoms and can linger for months or years before being discovered. These may include unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, pain in the abdomen, painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), fever or painful urination. Methods of treatment include Azithromycin, 100mg Doxycycline twice daily for up to two weeks, Tetracycline or Erythromycin. Most of the time the infection can be cured, provided the entire course of anibiotics is followed regardless of whether the discharge has faded and the fevers subsided. Another thing to ensure is that all sexual partners are tested for the bacterium, and that future sexual encounters are treated with extra caution and vigilance by way of latex condom protection for either sex. With proper treatment, the bacterium is only hostile in the system for 10 to 12 days, but do ensure you follow the doctor’s orders as this is a very common sexually-transmitted infection.
