What is chlamydia and how common is it?
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics.
If left untreated, it can lead to serious problems such as ectopic pregnancy (potentially dangerous pregnancy outside the womb), pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the womb and fallopian tubes) and infertility (not being able to get pregnant) in women, and epididymitis (inflammation of tube at the back of the testicle) in men.
How is chlamydia transmitted?
Chlamydia can be passed on in several ways including:
- Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
- Sharing sex toys
- Mutual masturbation
It can be passed on even if your sexual partner doesn’t ejaculate (cum).
Chlamydia cannot be passed on through:
- Kissing
- Hugging
- Swimming pools
- Toilet seats
How do I reduce my risk of getting chlamydia?
Using condoms correctly and every time you have sex greatly lowers the chance of chlamydia being passed on. Having unprotected sex (without a condom) leads to much higher rates of chlamydia transmission.
What are the symptoms of chlamydia?
Chlamydia often causes no symptoms.
If you do develop symptoms, it can be weeks to months after having sex with someone with the infection. Symptoms may disappear without treatment, but this does not mean the infection has gone away so it is still important to get tested.
Chlamydia symptoms can include:
unusual discharge or bleeding from the vagina
pain in the abdomen (lower belly) or pelvis in females
pain during urination (peeing)
discharge from the penis
pain and swelling in the testicles (balls)
pain, discharge, or bleeding from the rectum (back passage)
Though chlamydia can spread to the throat through oral sex, it usually does not cause symptoms or contribute significantly to sore throats.
How is chlamydia diagnosed?
The tests for chlamydia are painless, reliable, and free. You can usually collect the sample yourself.
There are two main methods for collecting the sample:
- Urine sample: Take a small urine pot to the bathroom and pee in it.
- Swabbing: Wipe a small cotton bud gently over the potentially infected area, such as inside the vagina, throat, or anus.
It can take up to 2 weeks after sexual contact for the test to detect chlamydia; this is known as the window period. However, if there is a high likelihood that you have chlamydia, for example, if you’re experiencing symptoms or have had unprotected sex with a partner diagnosed with chlamydia, you may begin treatment before receiving your results.
We are unable to offer a same-day test or blood tests for chlamydia at Brighton and Hove SHAC. Results from our tests are typically available within 14 days.
Where can I get a free test for chlamydia in Brighton and Hove?
Chlamydia testing is free and there are lots of testing options available depending on where you live and why you want to test.
Chlamydia treatment
Chlamydia is usually treated very effectively with tablet antibiotics. The standard treatment is one week of doxycycline 100mg twice a day. At your treatment appointment we will give you the tablets, explain how to take them and talk to you about partner notification.
Before having sex again, you should ensure:
- You have completed the treatment
- It has been at least 7 days since you started the treatment
- Your partner(s) has/have been treated – this helps prevent passing on the infection or getting re-infected
Are there any side effects of chlamydia treatment?
While taking the treatment, some people may experience side effects. These are usually mild, and commonly include stomach discomfort, diarrhoea, nausea (feeling sick), yeast infections (thrush) in women, and skin sensitivity to sunlight. It is important to avoid direct sunlight and wear a high factor sunscreen.
What follow up is needed after treatment?
Usually no follow-up is needed. You do not need to repeat a test to check if the chlamydia has been cleared (test of cure) if you have taken your antibiotics correctly. You should not re-test for chlamydia within 5 weeks of completing the treatment. The test is very sensitive and may still detect residual inactive bacteria and return a false positive result.
If you are pregnant you should have a test of cure, even if you have taken the medication correctly.
If you miss doses of your medication, have ongoing symptoms, or engage in sexual activity before you or your partner(s) have completed treatment, please call us on 01273 523 388 for further advice.