Versione italiana
Search
Versione italiana
Search

STIs

Back

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common STI that can infect both men and women. It can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system. This can make it difficult or impossible for her to get pregnant later on. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the womb).

  • How is chlamydia spread?

    You can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. If your sexual partner is male you can still get chlamydia even if he does not ejaculate (cum). If you’ve had chlamydia and were treated in the past, you can still get infected again. This can happen if you have unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia.

  • How can I reduce my risk of getting chlamydia?

    If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting chlamydia:

    • Be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STI test results;
    • Use latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.
  • Am I at risk for chlamydia?

    Anyone who has sex can get chlamydia through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. However, sexually active young people are at a higher risk of getting chlamydia. This is due to behaviors and biological factors common among young people. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are also at risk since chlamydia can spread through oral and anal sex.

  • How do I know if I have chlamydia?

    Most people who have chlamydia have no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may not appear until several weeks after you have sex with an infected partner. Even when chlamydia causes no symptoms, it can damage your reproductive system.

    Women with symptoms may notice

    • An abnormal vaginal discharge;
    • A burning sensation when urinating.

    Symptoms in men can include

    • A discharge from their penis;
    • A burning sensation when urinating;
    • Pain and swelling in one or both testicles (although this is less common).

    Men and women can also get infected with chlamydia in their rectum. This happens either by having receptive anal sex, or by spread from another infected site (such as the vagina). While these infections often cause no symptoms, they can cause

    • Rectal pain;
    • Discharge;
    • Bleeding.

    Laboratory tests can diagnose chlamydia. Your health care provider may ask you to provide a urine sample or may use (or ask you to use) a cotton swab to get a sample from your vagina to test for chlamydia.

  • Can chlamydia be cured?

    Yes, chlamydia can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection. When taken properly it will stop the infection and could decrease your chances of having complications later on.

    Untreated chlamydia may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV.

    Repeat infection with chlamydia is common. You should be tested again about three months after you are treated, even if your sexual partner(s) was treated.

×