Find a clinic near you to get tested.
It’s quick and easy.

What are chlamydia and gonorrhea?

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two very common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). You get chlamydia or gonorrhea by having sex (vaginal, oral or anal) with somebody who has them. Each one is caused by bacteria. This means that they can be cured with the right pills and that you can get them more than once. A lot of people who catch these diseases get them both at the same time.  People might not notice that they have chlamydia or gonorrhea. The only way to know for sure is to get tested for them once a year or right away if you have any symptoms.

What could chlamydia and gonorrhea do to my body?

If you have either chlamydia or gonorrhea, you start to have symptoms a few days to a couple of weeks after you catch them. You might have:

• A white, yellow, green, or clear drip from the vagina, anus or penis.
• More flow (discharge) from the vagina.
• Burning or hurting when you pee.
• Pain in the lower belly or back.

But, the most common sign of chlamydia and gonorrhea is:

• NOTHING

But, it still is hurting your body.

If you don’t get these sicknesses cured with the right medicines, they can:

• Make your whole pelvis swell up, and cause serious pain.
• Cause a baby to grow in your fallopian tubes, which might make you need surgery.
• Make it so you can’t ever have babies.
• Spread to your unborn babies and hurt them.
• Make it easier to get and give HIV—the virus that causes AIDS.

How many people have chlamydia and gonorrhea in Los Angeles County?

A lot. There were over 50,000 cases of chlamydia or gonorrhea in 2005. Both men and women get these STDs, although they are very common in women. This is especially true of chlamydia.

• About 7 in every 10 cases of chlamydia happened in women.
• Over 30,000 women got chlamydia in 2005.

How can I protect myself from chlamydia or gonorrhea?

If you have sex, limit the number of people you have sex with.
Remember that each time you have sex with somebody, you can catch something that your partner got from any of his or
her partners. Also, try using a latex condom (rubber). Using a condom correctly every time you have sex will help keep you from getting pregnant, and also help keep you from getting an STD. Also, get a chlamydia and gonorrhea test every year, or whenever you switch partners.

• Get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea at least once a year.
• Remember, if they go uncured they can cause serious problems such as making it impossible for you to have babies.
• More questions? Call the toll free STD hotline 800-758-0880