Chlamydia: Symptoms, testing, and treatment

What is chlamydia?

Otherwise known as chlamydia trachomatis, chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It’s more common in young people, and can be spread through unprotected sex. You can’t contract or spread chlamydia through casual contact like hugging or holding hands.

While it can cause symptoms like pain when peeing or unusual discharge, many people with chlamydia have no symptoms, making it essential to get regular STI tests. In general, it’s a good idea to get tested if you’ve had unprotected sex with a new partner, or if you’ve had sex and the condom breaks.

Chlamydia is easily treatable with antibiotics, and if managed appropriately, is unlikely to cause any long-term issues. However, left untreated, it can cause complications like reactive arthritis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), emphasising how important it is to stay on top of your sexual health.

How do you get chlamydia?

Chlamydia is spread through unprotected sexual contact with someone who has the infection. You can get it through:

• Unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex
• Sharing sex toys that aren’t washed or covered with a condom between uses
• Semen or vaginal fluid entering your eye
• Genitals coming into contact with a partner’s genitals

If you’re pregnant and catch chlamydia, there’s a risk that you could also pass chlamydia on to your baby during childbirth.

Can you get chlamydia from kissing?

You cannot get chlamydia from kissing or mouth-to-mouth contact.

Chlamydia can’t be passed on through saliva, so even if the person you’re kissing is infected, you won’t get chlamydia through kissing alone.

You also can’t contract chlamydia by:

• Sitting on a toilet seat used by someone infected with chlamydia
• Sharing a bed, towels or clothes with someone infected with chlamydia
• Touching surfaces, light switches, door handles and buttons
• Sharing a swimming pool, hot tub, bath or shower with someone infected with chlamydia

It’s worth noting that while chlamydia can’t be spread by kissing your partner on the lips, it can be contracted if you kiss an infected partner on the genitals, or engage in oral sex.

Symptoms of chlamydia

Most people won’t show any signs of infection when they contract chlamydia, making it crucial to get tested between partners or after engaging in unprotected sex.

If you do show symptoms, it usually won’t be until 1-3 weeks after initially contracting chlamydia, although it can take a few months to show symptoms in some people.

Symptoms of chlamydia in women

While many women, or those assigned female at birth, don’t display symptoms, you might experience:

• Pain when peeing
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Pain during or bleeding after sex
• Bleeding between menstrual periods
• Pain in the pelvis or belly

Symptoms of chlamydia in men

Men, or those assigned male at birth, might display the following symptoms of chlamydia:

• Pain when peeing
• Pain in your testicles
• White or cloudy discharge from your penis
• Burning or itching of your urethra

How do I know if I have chlamydia?

You can find out if you have chlamydia by taking an STI test.

While you can go to your GP, a private consultant or a sexual health clinic, you can also request a home testing kit. These are generally easy to use, and you’ll get results in just a few days.

There are two ways to collect a sample:

• Swab: If you have a vulva, you can test for chlamydia by using the provided cotton bud to gently swab the inside of your vagina.
• Urine sample: If you have a penis, you can collect your sample by urinating into a container.

You should aim to take an STI test at least once a year if you’re sexually active, and ideally take a test between new sexual partners.

As it can take between one to two weeks after getting infected for a positive result to show up in a test, be prepared to wait a couple of weeks before getting tested to maximise your chances of accuracy, and refrain from having sex in the meantime.

Treatment for chlamydia

If you test positive for chlamydia, tell your doctor immediately to get started on treatment as soon as possible.

Chlamydia is highly treatable with antibiotics, with most courses lasting 7–14 days. It’s important that you finish the entire packet, even if your symptoms start to go away.

You should also take another STI test after finishing treatment to make sure that the infection has cleared. Wait 7 days after finishing your treatment or receiving a negative test result to have sex again.

Complications of untreated chlamydia

While chlamydia is very treatable, if you’re not showing symptoms it’s easy to leave chlamydia untreated. As a result, you may develop complications from chlamydia as a result.

The complications of untreated chlamydia between men and women differ slightly, but can become serious without medical attention.

Complications of chlamydia in females

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): When an infection spreads to the reproductive system — like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and womb — it can cause PID. You might experience symptoms like pain during sex, pain when peeing, and irregular bleeding. This condition is potentially very serious, and it can lead to long-term complications like infertility and chronic pelvic pain. It can also increase your risk of ectopic pregnancy, where a fertilised egg implants outside the womb (often in a fallopian tube)
• Pregnancy complications: If you’re pregnant and have untreated chlamydia, there can be possible complications for both you and your baby. You may pass the infection to the fetus, resulting in your fetus developing an eye or lung infection, and you may also give birth prematurely.

Complications of chlamydia in males

• Testicle inflammation: Left untreated, chlamydia can spread to the testicles. This can make them red, painful and swollen. If you don’t take antibiotics to treat the infection, it can lead to infertility.
• Sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA): While SARA can affect anyone, it’s more common in males. It can make your joints, urethra, and eyes inflamed. There’s no cure for this condition, but you can take anti-inflammatory pain relievers to manage your symptoms.

Preventing STIs

You can reduce your chances of contracting chlamydia by practising safe sex and getting tested regularly. Keep the following in mind:

• Safer sex: Be sure to use condoms, femidoms or dental dams during all forms of sex, including anal, oral, and vaginal. This applies even if you have a same-sex partner. You should also avoid sharing sex toys or be sure to clean them thoroughly between uses.
• Testing: Get regular STI screenings. Consider doing a test at least once a year or each time you have a new sexual partner.
• Communication: Be open about your sexual health status, and encourage your partner(s) to do the same. You can make this conversation less intimidating by leading with your own sexual health history or suggesting you get tested together.

Why choose Circle Health Group for sexual health support?

Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs and doesn’t always cause symptoms. However, if you’re experiencing signs of an infection, it’s important to get medical attention. Left untreated, chlamydia can lead to potentially serious complications.

Circle Health Group offers personalised treatment options for sexual health, and you’ll be supported by our network of experienced providers every step of the way.

To learn more about our treatment options, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.

Clinical review and sources

1. Chlamydia, NIH
2. Chlamydia, WHO
3. Overview: Chlamydia, NHS
4. Symptoms: Chlamydia, NHS