A new research shows that nearly 1.8 million Americans have chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease, but many are not aware of it.

According to the U.S. National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention - young women in particular, are more susceptible to the disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can be easily cured. If left untreated, chlamydia can make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant.

For the study, the researchers looked into data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007 to 2012) and found that 1.7 percent of men and women, aged between 14-39 years, have Chlamydia. However, they found that only 1.4 million chlamydia infections are reported each year.

The chlamydia infection rate is highest among sexually active girls aged between 14 to 19 years at 6.4 percent, the investigators found. The rate among sexually active boys of the same age group is 2.4 percent, reports HealthDay.

Researchers also found significant racial differences. For instance, the rate among sexually active black teen girls is 18.6 percent, while it is 3.2 percent among sexually active white teen girls.

The team advised that young sexually active girls should get screened for chlamydia in order to make sure that all those who are infected get diagnosed and treated, the researchers said.

The study was scheduled for presentation Tuesday at the STD Prevention Conference in Atlanta.