Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK.
It's passed on through unprotected sex (sex without a condom) and is particularly common in sexually active teenagers and young adults.
If you're a woman, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year, and when you have sex with new or casual partners.
If you're a man, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you are not using condoms with new or casual partners.
Symptoms of chlamydia
Most people with chlamydia do not notice any symptoms and do not know they have it.
If you do develop symptoms, you may experience:
- pain when peeing
- unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or bottom
- in women, pain in the tummy, bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods
- in men, pain and swelling in the testicles
If you think you're at risk of having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or have any symptoms of chlamydia, visit a GP, community contraceptive service or local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic to get tested.
How do you get chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection. The bacteria are usually spread through sex or contact with infected genital fluids (semen or vaginal fluid).
You can get chlamydia through:
- unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
- sharing sex toys that are not washed or covered with a new condom each time they're used
- your genitals coming into contact with your partner's genitals - this means you can get chlamydia from someone even if there's no penetration, orgasm or ejaculation
- infected semen or vaginal fluid getting into your eye
It can also be passed by a pregnant woman to her baby.
Chlamydia cannot be passed on through casual contact, such as kissing and hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or cutlery.
Is chlamydia serious?
Although chlamydia does not usually cause any symptoms and can normally be treated with a short course of antibiotics, it can be serious if it's not treated early on.
If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body and lead to long-term health problems, especially in women.
In women, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy and infertility.
In men, in rare cases, chlamydia can spread to the testicles and epididymis (tubes that carry sperm from the testicles), causing them to become painful and swollen. This is known as epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis (inflammation of the testicles).
It can also sometimes cause reactive arthritis in men and women.
This is why it's important to get tested and treated as soon as possible if you think you might have chlamydia.
Find out more about the complications of chlamydia
Getting tested for chlamydia
Testing for chlamydia is done with a urine test or a swab test.
You do not always need a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.
Anyone can get a free and confidential chlamydia test at a sexual health clinic, a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic or a GP surgery.
In England, if you're a woman under 25 years old, you may be offered a chlamydia test when you visit some health services, for example a pharmacy or GP. This offer is part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP).
If you're offered a chlamydia test you should consider taking it.
If you're a woman, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year, and when you have sex with new or casual partners.
If you're a man, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you are not using condoms with new or casual partners.
You can also buy chlamydia testing kits to do at home.
Find out more about chlamydia diagnosis
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Preventing chlamydia
Anyone who's sexually active can catch chlamydia.
You're most at risk if you have a new sexual partner or do not use a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom, when having sex.
You can help to prevent the spread of chlamydia by:
- using a condom every time you have vaginal or anal sex
- using a condom to cover the penis during oral sex
- using a dam (a piece of thin, soft plastic or latex) to cover the female genitals during oral sex or when rubbing female genitals together
- not sharing sex toys
If you do share sex toys, wash them or cover them with a new condom between each person who uses them.
Chlamydia: Myths vs Facts
Not sure whether to believe what you've heard about chlamydia? We're here to bust some common myths. Here are the chlamydia facts.
Myth
You would know if you had chlamydia.
Fact
Most people with chlamydia don't have any noticeable symptoms. It's often known as the “hidden” or “silent” infection because it's so common to have it without knowing. The only way to know if you have chlamydia is to get tested. And the same goes for sexual partners. You can't tell whether a partner has chlamydia or any other STIs just by looking - that's why it's a good idea to use condoms to help protect yourself.
Myth
Chlamydia always causes infertility.
Fact
It's important to be aware that untreated chlamydia can lead to infertility. But for most people, as long as the chlamydia is cured it won't cause infertility or any other complications. It's important to treat chlamydia early before it has the chance to spread to other parts of the body. If chlamydia in women isn't treated, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can cause infertility. Untreated chlamydia may cause a painful infection in the testicles which could, in rare cases, affect fertility in men.
Myth
Chlamydia can go away on its own.
Fact
Chlamydia needs to be treated with antibiotics to prevent any long-term problems. Without treatment, there is a chance that eventually the chlamydia might go away - but it's likely to take a long time. And if you have chlamydia for a long time, then it's more likely to cause serious and painful complications - and you could pass it on to other people. The best way to look after your health is to get treated and cured as early as possible. That's why regular testing is a good idea.