Pronounced as "kla-MID-ee-uh" Chlamydia, is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and can be cured.

Chlamydia is a very common cause of genital infection.

The genital Chlamydia infection may be acquired during oral, vaginal, or anal, sexual contact with an infected partner.

Chlamydia is often called the "silent" disease because a person can have it but still not get to know that he is having the infection.

That means the disease often has no symptoms. This sustains the infectious pool in the population.

It is regularly found in association with other sexually transmitted diseases 20% of men & 40% of women with gonorrhoea are found to have coexisting chlamydial infections.

It can also cause serious problems in men and women, such as discharge from the penis and infertility.

It can also cause infection in newborn babies of infected mothers.

The chlamydia bacterium has a worldwide distribution.

Chlamydia is one of the most widespread bacterial STDs in the United States. An estimated 3 million people are infected each year, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In UK there has been a steady rise (almost a 76%) in the incidence of CT between 1995-1999.

In India a high prevalence (upto 40%) of lower genital tract infections due to CT has been reported according to the Institute Of Pathology, New Delhi.