Chlamydia

Real talk

Chlamydia is extremely common and often doesn’t present symptoms. But fear not – it’s also easy to treat.

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI. It can be passed through bodily fluids during sex, whether that’s anal, oral or vaginal sex.

Chlamydia is completely curable with antibiotics, but if left untreated, infections can cause serious long-term issues, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), epididymitis (a scrotal infection), chronic pain, ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

How do you get it?

Chlamydia is easily passed during any kind of sex where one person’s sexual fluids enter another person’s genitals, anus, throat or eyes. This can happen during penetrative sex with fingers, sex toys, or a penis.

It’s also possible, but less likely, to pass chlamydia through oral sex on the vulva or around the anus. Chlamydia can also enter the eyes from face sitting, cum shots on the face, or touching your face after sex.

What are the symptoms?

Chlamydia often doesn’t have any symptoms. If symptoms do come up, they appear differently depending on where you have the infection.

• Vagina: Unusual discharge, pain when peeing, pain or bleeding during penetration, or bleeding between periods.
• Penis and testicles: Cloudy discharge, irritation or itching at the opening of the penis, pain when peeing, or pain and swelling in the balls.
• Anus: Anal discharge, bleeding or pain.
• Throat: Sore throat, pain when swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, redness in the mouth or throat.
• Eyes: Conjunctivitis or inflammation in the eyes.

How is it prevented?

Depending on the kind of sex you’re having, you can use barriers like condoms, dental dams or gloves to prevent the transmission of chlamydia.

Make sure to grab a new barrier if you’re changing partners, body parts or sharing a toy in one session. Washing your hands after sex or contact with bodily fluids may also reduce the risk of infection.

How do you test for chlamydia?

A routine STI screening includes a chlamydia test.

The test for chlamydia in the genitals can usually be done by urine sample or swab. Anal and throat tests are done by swab.

All swab tests can be self-collected when you don’t have any symptoms, which is often the case for chlamydia.

Check out our STI testing guide for more on what to expect at a sexual health check.

How do you get treated?

Chlamydia is generally easy to treat. Most of the time, it only takes a short course of oral antibiotics to be completely cured.

Give the antibiotics a full week (seven days) to work before having sex again.

If you’re diagnosed with chlamydia, don’t forget to let your sexual partners know so they can also get tested and treated if needed. Check out our partner notification section for more information on navigating this part of the process.

When to see a healthcare professional

A healthcare professional can recommend the tests that are right for your body and your sexual practices. They can provide treatment straight away if you need it, check for any complications, and talk with you about re-testing or letting partners know. Regular checks are a simple way to look after yourself, your partners and your community.

See a healthcare provider if:

• you notice any unusual changes or symptoms listed above
• a partner has told you they have an STI
• you have had sex without a barrier (condoms, dams or gloves)
• you are starting a new sexual relationship
• it has been a while since your last sexual health check

Many STIs don’t cause symptoms, which is why routine testing is one of the best ways to stay on top of your sexual health.