Four million American men and women become infected every year. In women, chlamydia infects the cervix and can spread to the urethra, Fallopian tubes and ovaries. In men, chlamydia infects the urethra and may spread to the testicles, causing epididymitis, which can cause sterility. Chlamydia can also lead to Reiter's syndrome, especially in young men. Reiter's syndrome involves eye infections, urethritis and arthritis.
Many women discover they have chlamydia only because their partners are found to be infected.
Other women discover that they must have had it for some time when they are treated for the infertility that it can cause. If symptoms appear, they do so in seven to 21 days. If your partner is a man, and he has a urinary tract infection, you may have chlamydia. Only one in four men with chlamydia have no symptoms. Chlamydia is spread by vaginal and anal intercourse or from the birth canal to the fetus.