Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can affect anyone who is sexually active and may not cause symptoms. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics along with other measures to treat it.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. Chlamydia often produces no symptoms, but it can lead to fertility problems. However, effective treatment is available.

In this article, we will discuss the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of chlamydia.

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Most people with chlamydia do not notice any symptoms. It is also unclear how long it takes for symptoms to appear, but it may be several weeks.

In females

In females, symptoms of chlamydia may include:

  • a discharge from the cervix
  • bleeding, especially after sex
  • frequent or painful urination

If chlamydia spreads to the uterus and the fallopian tubes, it can result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This, too, may not produce symptoms. However, it can affect fertility.

In males

In males, symptoms may include:

  • discharge from the penis
  • a burning sensation when urinating
  • Pain and swelling in one or both testicles

Males and females

People may also develop symptoms in the rectum and anus. The virus can infect these areas during anal sex or by spreading from the reproductive organs. This may include pain, discharge, and bleeding around the anus.

Contact with infected secretions can also lead to chlamydial conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.

Anyone who has or suspects they have chlamydia must seek treatment to prevent long-term health consequences, including infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

Doctors will typically prescribe antibiotics to treat chlamydia. A person will usually take antibiotics as a pill.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend retesting at least every 3 months after treatment, depending on the individual’s risk factors.

Antibiotics

Examples of antibiotics for chlamydia may include:

  • Azithromycin: A single 1-gram (g) dose.
  • Doxycycline: 100 milligrams (mg) twice daily for 7 days
  • Amoxicillin: 500 mg oral tablets 3 times daily for 7 days

Adverse effects can sometimes occur, including:

Evidence suggests that a course of antibiotics resolves chlamydia in 95% of cases. However, it is essential to follow the doctor’s instructions and complete the whole course of treatment.

Other aspects of treatment

The CDC recommend that people with chlamydia refrain from sex for 7 days. This includes waiting 7 days after a single dose, or waiting to finish all doses if they have medicine to take for 7 days.

If a person has a diagnosis of chlamydia, they should inform any partners they have had sexual contact within the previous 60 days so that they, too, can seek testing and treatment.

If one partner does not receive treatment or does not complete the course of treatment, there is a risk of reinfection or transmitting the virus to someone else.

Sometimes, a doctor may also recommend treatment for gonorrhea because the bacteria that cause the two infections can occur together.

To diagnose chlamydia, a doctor may carry out an examination to look for physical symptoms such as discharge.

They will also take either a urine sample or a swab sample from the penis, cervix, urethra, throat, or rectum.

Chlamydia screening

As chlamydial infection frequently presents no symptoms, health authorities often recommend screening for some people.

The USPSTF recommend screening for chlamydia in all sexually active females 24 years or younger and in females 25 years or older who are at increased risk for infection. These risks may include having a partner with an STI, having a new or more than 1 sex partner, and a previous or co-existing STI. These recommendations also include pregnant people.

The CDC also recommend the following screening guidelines:

  • sexually active females under 25 years of age and those 25 years or older if at high risk
  • males who are in a high-risk group
  • males who have sex with males
  • people with HIV who are sexually active

The CDC note that for transgender and gender diverse people, screening recommendations should be adapted based on anatomy.

Chlamydia is an infection by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis).

A person can acquire chlamydia through unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex or through genital contact. It is also possible to pass chlamydia through sharing unwashed sex toys with a person with an infection. As chlamydial infection often has no symptoms, a person may have the infection and pass it on to a sexual partner without knowing.

It is also possible for a pregnant person with a chlamydia infection to pass it on to a baby during childbirth.

It is not possible to pass on chlamydia through:

  • contact with a toilet seat
  • sharing a sauna
  • using a swimming pool
  • touching a surface that a person with chlamydia has touched
  • standing close to a person who has the infection
  • coughs or sneezes
  • sharing an office or house with a colleague who has the infection

Ways of preventing chlamydia or reducing the risk of infection include:

  • using condoms, or other barrier methods, consistently and correctly
  • limiting the number of sexual partners
  • having a sexual relationship in which both partners are monogamous
  • regular screening
  • avoiding sex until treatment of all partners is complete

Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risk of complications. These can include:

Chlamydia is a common, sexually-transmitted bacterial infection. It often produces no symptoms, but screening can show if a person needs treatment.

Without treatment, it can lead to complications that may have permanent effects. For this reason, treatment and screening are essential for those who may be at risk.