Chlamydia is most commonly transmitted through anal or vaginal sex, though oral sex can also be a conduit. If caught early, it is easily treatable with antibiotics, but if untreated it can lead to serious complications, especially in women.
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States, with an estimated 3-4 million cases every year. It is 3 times as common as gonorrhea, 6 times as common as herpes, and 30 times as common as syphilis. Teenage girls have the highest rates of infection, with 1 in 10 of those screened testing positive. More women than men report chlamydia, partly because of routine pelvic exams.
When chlamydia is detected early, its spread can be prevented with proper treatment. Because of this, many physicians routinely test for chlamydia during routine pelvic exams. In some areas, government funded screening programs have led to dramatic drops in transmission rates. Every one dollar spent on prevention or early detection saves 12 dollars in costs from complications after the disease has progressed.
