Condoms effective for preventing chlamydia

Consistent use of condoms helps to protect people who are at risk of getting the chlamydia infection from their sex partners. Chlamydia trachomatis is a common cause of painful pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, and can lead to infertility. Researchers from the Yale University studied 152 patients of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic who were known to have been exposed to chlamydia. It was found that only 13 percent of consistent condom users were diagnosed with chlamydial infection compared with 34 percent of inconsistent condom users. The consistent condom use was 90 percent effective in preventing chlamydia infection, for people who were at risk. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that condoms can and do prevent some sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. However, further studies should focus on finding the optimal methods for assuring that people who need protection are able to use condoms consistently and correctly.