Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease that can cause infertility, is steadily rising in Los Angeles County and in the South Bay, according to figures released Tuesday.

County figures show there were 44,648 cases of chlamydia diagnosed in 2010, accounting for 78 percent of all STDs reported to the Department of Public Health, which publishes an annual report on the prevalence of these diseases.

In the Torrance health district, 1,383 cases of chlamydia were found last year, or 293 cases for every 100,000 residents – a 25 percent rise over 2006. In the Harbor Area (excluding Long Beach), there were 230 cases in 2006 compared to 332 last year, a 44 percent increase.

The group most susceptible to all types of STDs tracked by the county – chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and pelvic inflammatory disease – are young, black or Latino females. Two-thirds of all those diagnosed with chlamydia were black or Latino and female, and 80 percent were under the age of 29.

“This should be a wake-up call for all of us,” said Serena Josel, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, which runs a health center in Lawndale. “This should be cause to take a look at how we’re getting accurate information out there to young people.”

The county operates several public education programs, along with other community health groups. Parents in particular need to be in the loop, encouraging their children to get tested, Josel said.

The South region of the county, which includes Hawthorne and Gardena, had by far the highest rates of all STDs. Figures show more than 10,000 cases of chlamydia were diagnosed in 2010, about a quarter of all county cases.

Chlamydia is sometimes referred to as the “silent disease” because it can go undetected for years. Symptoms are usually mild or completely absent, particularly in men.

The disease is spread through sexual contact, including anal and oral, and can be easily passed among unknowing partners, health officials say.

If left untreated, chlamydia can cause infections in the uterus and fallopian tubes and lead to infertility and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancies. the disease also makes one more susceptible to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Efforts to improve the rate of STD testing may be a factor in the increased rates, health officials said. In 2009, the county launched a mail-in testing program for chlamydia and gonorrhea that allows people to receive tests in the mail and send them to the county.

The results are made available online or by phone about a week later, and resources for treatment are accessible online. the campaign targeted young women in particular.

The county has seen the rate of gonorrhea decline, but has yet to make headway with other diseases. In the South Bay, there were 1,351 cases of gonorrhea in 2006, compared to 1,047 in 2010, a 29 percent decline. Roughly two-thirds of the local cases were discovered in the Inglewood health district, figures show.

Across the county, there were about 9,500 cases of gonorrhea, split about evenly among men and women. more than 6,000 of those diagnosed were black or Latino.

Symptoms of gonorrhea can also be mild or nonexistent, but the bacterial disease can lead to infertility in both men and women.

Young people who are sexually active should be tested about once a year or more, depending on their number of partners, health officials said. most STDs are treatable with antibiotics.

Find out more

For more information on the county Department of Public Health report on sexually transmitted diseases, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov. For information on STD testing, call 1-800-758-0880.

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EAU CLAIRE (WEAU) – “Get yourself talking… And get yourself tested!”

That’s the campaign planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is joining as part of a national effort to spread awareness of sexually transmitted diseases. as of 2009, nearly 25,000 STD cases were reported in Wisconsin. State health leaders say the numbers are only increasing. That’s part of the reason why all 27 health centers located throughout the state are offering free chlamydia and HIV rapid testing throughout this month.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin spokesperson Tanya Atkinson says getting tested is critical. Atkinson said “Left untreated, STD’s can lead to a whole host of complications later on in life, and what a lot of people don’t know is that many STD’s don’t have symptoms, so just because you don’t have symptoms doesn’t mean that you may not have STD’s.”

State health leaders say chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common infections.

Its red and irritated and itches,and the last guy she had sex with,supposably had something so she wants to get checked but dosnt know how to ask her mom.are any of these symptoms of an STD? Or could it be something else??

This could be an STD or something as simple as a yeast infection. she can go to her own doctor without her mother's permission for getting this checked and treated. she does not need to tell her mother although one would hope that there is enough open communication between the two that she would tell her mother she is ill. she could also go to Planned Parenthood and get tested and treated but would need to be prepared to pay a fee for this exam and treatment. And, she needs to use protection in the future to prevent this from happening again once she gets treated.

i would have to say yes for sure go and get tested! anything that is not normal down there, there is something wrong! how old is your friend? you need to be straight with your mom and tell her whats going on! and tell her you would like to go to dr and get a ob yearly woman's check up! if anything find a friend to take you to get tested, a girl that is sexual active should be checked and have regular check ups all the time! hope this is of any help.. sounds like to me tho somethings not right.

Sounds more like a yeast infection.

She just needs to tell her mom. And she needs to learn from this.