Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. You can contract it through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Interestingly, many people with chlamydia don’t show any symptoms, making it easy to unknowingly spread it to others. When symptoms do occur, they may include a burning sensation when urinating, unusual discharge, and pain during sex.
The only way to know if you have chlamydia is through testing. Healthcare providers might take a urine sample or swab samples from different areas, such as the throat, vagina, cervix, rectum, or urethra, to test for the infection. If your test results are positive, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics, which are very effective—treatment cures chlamydia 95% of the time. Without treatment, chlamydia can lead to health issues like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), so recognizing symptoms and seeking early diagnosis is crucial.
Most people with chlamydia are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t experience any symptoms. In fact, up to 90% of women and 70% of men might not notice any signs. Even without symptoms, the infection is still transmittable, and it can also affect internal reproductive organs. Symptoms, when they do appear, might take weeks to show up after sexual contact, ranging from mild to severe.
Chlamydia can also affect the rectum or anus, causing pain, discharge, and bleeding. Although rare, it can lead to reactive arthritis, resulting in joint pain and inflammation in the eyes. In pregnant individuals, the infection can be passed to the baby during birth, potentially leading to conjunctivitis or pneumonia in newborns.
The infection is particularly common in sexually active people aged 15 to 24. Regular screening is advised for those at higher risk, with annual testing recommended. The nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) is one way to detect the bacteria, using fluid samples from urine or other body areas. Sometimes, blood tests or antigen tests might be used if NAAT isn’t available.
If you’re diagnosed with chlamydia, treatment typically involves antibiotics like doxycycline or azithromycin—though it’s crucial to avoid sexual activity during treatment and for a week afterward. Both you and your sexual partners need treatment to prevent reinfection, which is common due to untreated partners. Following treatment, a follow-up visit is important to ensure the infection is cleared, with retesting for chlamydia and other STIs three months later to check for reinfection.
While treatment is highly effective, preventing chlamydia is always beneficial. Abstaining from vaginal, oral, or anal sex is the only sure prevention method, but using condoms and having regular STI screenings can significantly lower the risk. If untreated, chlamydia can cause complications like PID and impact pregnancy, leading to miscarriage or premature birth. However, with prompt treatment, these risks are minimized, and the infection can be successfully managed.
