Preventing Chlamydia
Chlamydia Fact Sheet (PDF 80 KB)
Transmission
Chlamydia bacteria live in vaginal fluid and in semen. It is most
efficiently spread during vaginal or anal sexual contact with an infected
partner, but it can also be spread during oral sex, and in rare cases, from the
hand to the eye. Chlamydia can be passed from an infected mother to her baby
during childbirth, causing infections of the eyes and respiratory tracts of
the newborns.
The greater the number of sexual partners a person has, the greater the
risk of infection, but anyone who is sexually active can be infected with
chlamydia. Teenage girls and young women are particularly vulnerable, because
the cervix may not be fully matured. Men who have sex with men may be at
risk through oral or anal sex transmission.
Risk factors for acquiring chlamydia include:
- Being a young adult.
- Having a number of different sex partners.
- Having sex partners who’ve had a number of different sex partners.
- Not using condoms.
- Having a history of other sexually transmitted diseases.
Prevention
The only sure way to prevent getting any sexually transmitted disease is to
abstain from all sexual contact. For those who choose to be sexually active,
being in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been
tested for chlamydia and is known to be uninfected will greatly minimize
risk.
Correct and consistent condom use can significantly reduce the risk of
transmission of chlamydia. Although transmission through oral sex is rare,
using condoms, dental dams, or other plastic barriers will reduce a person’s
risk. |
