This article discusses facts and statistics that you should know about this STI.

Chlamydia Overview

Chlamydia is a common STI that is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is often asymptomatic, meaning there are no symptoms after a person contracts it. People may be unaware that they have symptoms, making it easier to spread.

Although chlamydia can be cured, if left untreated, it can lead to harmful sexual health consequences, especially for people with a uterus.

How Common Is Chlamydia?

There were 1.5 million new cases of chlamydia in 2020. That amounts to roughly 481.3 cases per 100,000 people. Because of the numbers documented, chlamydia was the most reported STI in the United States in 2020.

While those numbers seem high, they are actually lower than the prior year. The year 2020 saw a 13% decrease in reported cases from 2019.

The incidence rate of chlamydia continuously rose between 2000 and 2019 before declining between 2019 and 2020. In the year 2000, rates were roughly 250 cases per 100,000 people in the country. By 2019, those rates had risen to just over 500 cases per 100,000 people.

Conditions by Ethnicity

Cases of chlamydia do not affect all ethnicities in the same way. There is a large disparity in terms of which communities are more often affected by the STI. This is not due to genetics but rather to a number of reasons, including access to health care, economic disadvantage, and other barriers to the use of services.

PovertyUnstable housingSubstance useA lack of medical care or insurance to seek medical careA high level of cases all coming from the same communityPost-pandemic lack of care due to a shortage of medical staff

The Black community is 5 to 8 times more likely to contract the STI than non-Hispanic Whites. The American Indian or Alaska Native community is 3 to 5 times more likely to contract the STI than non-Hispanic Whites. The Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander community is 3 to 5 times more likely to contract the STI than non-Hispanic Whites. The Hispanic or Latino communities are 1 to 2 times more likely to get chlamydia than non-Hispanic Whites.

According to the CDC, roughly 1 in 20 people with uteruses who are sexually active between the ages of 14 and 24 have this STI.

The chance of acquiring chlamydia rises with the following factors:

Having unprotected sexual contact Engaging in sexual acts with multiple partners Engaging in sexual acts with a partner who has the infection but is unaware due to a lack of symptoms A lack of access to proper sexual health care Being a man who engages in sex acts with other men Having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

What Are the Mortality Rates for Chlamydia?

While chlamydia isn’t necessarily fatal, having an untreated infection can lead to severe health consequences. For people with vaginas and uteruses, not getting prompt treatment can cause irreversible damage to the reproductive system and conditions such as:

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): An infection of the womb, fallopian tubes, and ovaries that can lead to scarring Ectopic pregnancies: Happens when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus (often related to previous scarring) Tubal infertility: When there is a blockage in the fallopian tube restricting egg fertilization from occurring Pelvic adhesive disease: A condition that causes organs to be bound together by scar tissue within the pelvic and abdominal cavity

In people with penises and testicles, untreated chlamydia can lead to:

Swollen and tender testiclesInfection of the urethra, which is the tube that runs from the bladder to the end of the penis allowing urine to be excreted from the bodyInflammation of the lining of the rectum as well as the tube at the back of the testicles known as the epididymis

Screening and Early Detection

About 70% of people with uteruses and 50% of people with penises won’t experience symptoms of chlamydia. Because of this, screening and early detection are vital to reduce the risk of more severe health consequences.

According to the CDC, people with a uterus younger than 25 years old and those older than 25 who have multiple sexual partners should get tested yearly for chlamydia. Men who have sex with men (MSM) should also be tested annually.

The CDC recommends people with multiple partners and those who have anonymous sex get tested every three to six months.

The method for diagnosing chlamydia varies. People with vaginas will have a sample of fluid taken from the vagina, cervix, rectum, or throat using a swab. People with penises are tested with a urine sample or swab from the rectum or throat.

These tests are highly reliable, and there is little chance of a false-positive result (when the test indicates you have chlamydia when you actually do not). In some cases, a urine sample is used to detect chlamydia.

Summary

Chlamydia is a highly common STI that affects a large number of the American population. Roughly 1.5 million cases were reported to the CDC in 2020 alone. While the numbers have steadily increased since 2000, the cases dropped slightly between 2019 and 2020.

People with a uterus, Black Americans, and people between the ages of 15 and 24 are among the most affected populations. While people with a uterus are more likely to be diagnosed with chlamydia, as people age, the roles reverse and people with a penis over the ages of 40 account for more cases in that age group.

The biggest risk factors associated with the spread of infection is having condomless sex with someone who has the infection. Having multiple partners can also increase the risk. Not having proper access to healthcare screenings may also play a role in the transmission of the infection.

While chlamydia isn’t fatal, it can lead to dire health consequences, especially for people with a uterus. People in this group with an untreated chlamydia infection can develop various gynecological issues, all of which can affect fertility.

A Word From Verywell

Having chlamydia often comes with a stigma attached. People often frown upon STIs. The stigma isn’t warranted, considering how incredibly common chlamydia is.

The good news surrounding chlamydia is that, even if you contract it, it is easily treatable with antibiotics. With such a high number of cases, the best thing you can do is practice safer sex and get screened at least once a year or more frequently, depending on your risk factors.

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