 Do not rely on your partner to know the sexual history of all his or her partners or to tell you the truth .

              Before you have sex look closely for any signs of an STD.

              If your partner has ever been infected with a viral STD (herpes, genital warts, HIV) avoid unprotected sex.

              If you are infected tell your partner so he or she can be tested and treated.

              If you have an STD, wait to have sex until you and your partner have both been treated completely.

              Even if you are using oral contraceptives, a diaphragm, or an IUD, insist that your partner use a condom.

              Know the signs and symptoms of STD"s.

              Get an STD screening every time you have an annual medical exam.

              Tell your health care provider if you have ever had an STD.

             CHLAMYDIA – .

             Chlamydia is a bacterium that can affect mucus membranes in the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, and the eye. Chlamydia is the most common curable STD.

             Chlamydia may have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Around 80% of women and 25% of men experience no symptoms from chlamydia. So the few symptoms they do have are often ignored. If it"s not treated it can cause serious damage to the reproductive organs, especially in women. .

             The symptoms for chlamydia are: .

             *Men – pain or burning during urination, frequent urination, pain or swelling in the testicles, low-grade fever, burning and itching around the opening of the penis, watery or milky discharge from the penis.

             *Women – irregular vaginal bleeding, burning with urination, itching and burning in the genital area, vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain (accompanied by nausea and fever). .

             Chlamydia is transmitted during contact with the genital, mouth or rectal area of an infected person. This is not transmitted through contact with things such as toilet seats, hot tubs, pools, etc. Chlamydia is so common because someone can have it, not know about it and transmit the disease to someone else.