Chlamydia
Overview
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on through unprotected sex (sex without a condom). It’s treated with antibiotics. If not treated it can cause serious health problems.
Symptoms
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. Chlamydia can cause symptoms in women. These symptoms can affect anyone with a vagina: vaginal dischargethat is not normal for youbleeding after sex or between periodsa burning feeling when you peepain in your lower tummy Chlamydia can cause symptoms in men. These symptoms can affect anyone with a penis: white, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of your penisburning and itching around the testicles (balls) and penispain and swelling in the testiclesa burning feeling when you pee 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 bottoma sore throateye redness, pain and discharge
Treatment
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. Avoid vaginal, anal or oral sex until you and your partner (if you have one) have finished treatment and tests show you no longer have chlamydia.
Prevention
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. use condoms when you have vaginal or anal sex use condoms when you have vaginal or anal sex use a condom to cover the penis, or a latex or plastic square (dam) to cover the vagina, if you have oral sex use a condom to cover the penis, or a latex or plastic square (dam) to cover the vagina, if you have oral sex get tested once a year, or if you have a new sexual partner get tested once a year, or if you have a new sexual partner complete the full treatment if you or your sexual partner have chlamydia complete the full treatment if you or your sexual partner have chlamydia do not share sex toys (if you do, wash and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them) do not share sex toys (if you do, wash and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them)