Chlamydia

Symptoms of chlamydia

Most people who have chlamydia do not have any symptoms.

If you do get symptoms they can start from 1 week to several months after infection.

Symptoms in women

Chlamydia can cause symptoms in women. These symptoms can affect anyone with a vagina:

• vaginal discharge that is not normal for you
• bleeding after sex or between periods
• a burning feeling when you pee
• pain in your lower tummy

Symptoms in men

Chlamydia can cause symptoms in men. These symptoms can affect anyone with a penis:

• 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 feeling when you pee

Other symptoms in men and women

Chlamydia can affect other parts of your body that come into contact with semen or vaginal fluid. This can cause:

• pain, bleeding, and discharge from your bottom
• a sore throat
• eye redness, pain and discharge

Self-test kits

If you do not have symptoms but want a test, you can use a self-test kit for chlamydia at home and send it to a lab to be tested.

If the test shows you have chlamydia, you’ll be contacted and told what to do next.

You may be able to get a free self-test kit from:

• a sexual health clinic
• some pharmacies

You can also buy a self-test kit for chlamydia from some pharmacies.

If you're aged under 25 you may also be able to get free chlamydia home test kits for under 25s.

What happens at your appointment

A doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and sexual partners. They may need to check your penis or vagina.

When you make your appointment, let them know if you'd like someone else to be in the room with you (a chaperone) – this could be someone you know, another doctor, nurse or a trained member of staff.

You may be asked to give a pee sample.

They may use a swab (like a cotton bud) to take a sample of fluid from your penis or vagina. You may be able to do the swab yourself.

They may also need to take a swab from your bottom (anus), throat or eyes if these areas are affected.

You can be tested even if you do not have any symptoms. You may also be offered tests for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the same time.

Treatment for chlamydia

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. This may be a single dose, or tablets you take for 7 to 14 days.

Sometimes you may start treatment before the test results come back.

You may need to be tested again after treatment to check you no longer have chlamydia.

If you’re pregnant, you’ll be tested again 4 weeks after treatment.

How to avoid getting and spreading chlamydia

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.

There are some things you can do to avoid getting chlamydia and spreading it to others.

Complications of chlamydia

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.

Chlamydia in pregnancy

If you're pregnant and have chlamydia that is not treated, it can be passed onto your baby during birth.

If this happens, it can cause an infection in your baby's eyes (conjunctivitis) or lungs (pneumonia). These infections can be treated with antibiotics.