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CHLAMYDIA Chlamydia is the most widespread bacterial sexually transmitted disease today. It is especially dangerous for women because it can damage the reproductive organs to a point where they become infertile (unable to get pregnant and have children). Untreated, chlamydia can cause scarring of the reproductive organs. This can increase the likelihood of the life-threatening condition known as tubal pregnancy. Chlamydia, if untreated, can also cause scarring within a man’s reproductive organ leading to sterility. Many cases go undetected since three out of four women and one out of two men infected with chlamydia have no symptoms, and they won’t seek testing until it is too late. GONORRHEA Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can affect the sexual organs, throat, rectum and other parts of the body, including the eyes and joints. Arthritis and swelling of the joints sometimes result. In four out of 10 men and nearly eight out of 10 women who are infected with gonorrhea, there are no obvious symptoms. SYPHILIS Syphilis is a very dangerous sexually transmitted disease. At this point, it is less commonly reported than chlamydia or gonorrhea, and it is totally curable. Syphilis spreads through contact with an affected sore, much like herpes. In fact, early on it may look a lot like herpes. That is why syphilis has been called “the great pretender” - because it so often looks like something else. Unfortunately, sometimes that makes it hard for someone who is infected to know to get tested. Because of this, for those at high risk for syphilis it is recommended to get screened regularly, since all it takes is a simple blood test. This is really important, since left untreated syphilis may lead years later to blindness, dementia and even death. CHLAMYDIA, GONORRHEA, AND SYPHILIS ARE SPREAD BY:
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