Page 10 - Beyond Sex Ed: Understanding Sexually Transmitted Infections

CHAPTER 2

CHLAMYDIA

aused by the tiny bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (C.
C trachomatis), chlamydia is a very common STI that infects the
urinary-genital area, the anal area, and sometimes the eyes, throat,
and lungs. The CDC estimated that the United States had more than
four million new cases of chlamydia in 2018. But this number is
likely lower than the actual infection rate because many people
who have chlamydia experience no symptoms and so do not seek
testing. Various studies show that up to 50 percent of symptom-free
individuals who are randomly tested for chlamydia test positive for
the bacteria.
Chlamydia is especially common among young people, with
fifteen- to twenty-four-year-olds accounting for two-thirds of new
chlamydia infections each year. The highest rates of infection
are among teens with cervixes. The tissues of the cervix are

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BEYOND SEX ED CHLAMYDIA