What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI).
It can affect people of all ages, but it's most prevalent among young adults.
Chlamydia is passed on through unprotected sex (sex without a condom) and can be treated with a short course of antibiotics. If not treated, it can cause serious health problems.
Chlamydia is primarily spread through unprotected sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
It can also be transmitted from sharing sex toys, and from a pregnant person to their baby during childbirth.
Most people who have chlamydia do not have any symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can start from 1 week to several months after infection.
Symptoms (female genitals)
If you have female genitals, you may experience the following:
- Vaginal discharge that is not normal for you
- Bleeding after sex or between periods
- A burning or stinging sensation when you pee
- Pain in your lower abdomen (stomach)
Symptoms (male genitals)
If you have male genitals, you may experience the following:
- White, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of your penis
- Burning and itching around the testicles (balls) and penis
- Pain and swelling in the testicles
- A burning or stinging sensation when you pee
Other symptoms
Chlamydia can affect other parts of your body that come into contact with semen or vaginal fluid, causing:
- Pain, bleeding, and discharge from your anus (bottom)
- A sore throat with swollen glands
- Eye redness, pain, and discharge
Most people who have chlamydia do not have any symptoms: meaning they may not know they have it.
Untreated chlamydia can lead to serious health problems, including infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in people with female reproductive systems, and epididymitis in people with male reproductive systems. Regular testing helps ensure early detection and treatment.
Chlamydia is spread through vaginal fluid and semen. It can pass from person to person by having vaginal, oral or anal sex without a condom. If you have chlamydia when you're pregnant, it can pass to your baby during birth.
To avoid getting chlamydia:
Use Condoms:
- Consistently using condoms during sex can significantly reduce the risk of chlamydia and other STIs. Find out where to get condoms in Bexley.
- Use a condom to cover the penis, or a latex or plastic square (dam) to cover the vagina if you have oral sex.
- Do not share sex toys (if you do, wash and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them).
Get Regular Screenings: Regular STI screenings are crucial, especially if you have multiple partners. Test after every new sexual partner, or every year if you do not change sexual partners regularly. Find out how to get tested in Bexley.
Communicate with Partners: Open and honest communication with sexual partners about STI testing and protection is essential.
Get treatment: Complete the full treatment if you or your sexual partner have chlamydia. Find a sexual health clinic near Bexley.
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics.
This may be a single dose or tablets you take for 7 to 14 days. It's important to complete the full course of medication and inform any recent sexual partners so they can get tested and treated as well. Avoid vaginal, anal or oral sex until you and your partner (if you have one) have finished treatment and tests show you no longer have chlamydia. Find out where to get treatment in Bexley here.
If you think you might have chlamydia or want to get tested, you can:
For more information, visit the NHS website or contact your local healthcare provider.
A doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and sexual partners.
They may need to check your penis or vagina. You may be asked to give a urine (pee) sample or use a swab (like a cotton bud) to take a sample of fluid from your penis or vagina. They may also need to take a swab from your anus, throat or eyes if these areas are affected.
You can be tested for chlamydia even if you do not have any symptoms. You may also be offered tests for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the same time.
If you have chlamydia, your current and recent sexual partners need to be tested. A sexual health clinic can help you contact your partner/s, or they can contact them for you. They will not tell your partner/s who they are calling on behalf of.
If chlamydia is not treated, it can lead to serious complications including:
- Infection of the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries (pelvic inflammatory disease), which can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy.
- Infection in the testicles.
- Pain in your joints (reactive arthritis) which usually gets better after a few months.
The sooner you get treatment, the easier these complications are to treat.
If you're pregnant and have chlamydia that is not treated, it can be passed onto your baby during birth. This can cause an infection in your baby's eyes (conjunctivitis) or lungs (pneumonia). These infections can be treated with antibiotics.