What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia (full name Chlamydia trachomatis) is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection. In men it infects the urethra (tube inside the penis) and in women it infects the urethra and cervix (neck of the womb). It can also infect the rectum and sometimes the eyes and throat.

How do you get infected with chlamydia?

Chlamydia is transmitted through contact with genital fluids from the penis and vagina. If you have vaginal and/or anal sex without a condom you may become infected. Sometimes chlamydia can be transmitted through oral sex. Other sexual practices such as mutual masturbation or fingering may also result in the spread of infection. Chlamydia can also be transmitted from mother to baby during the birth. The baby may develop an eye or lung infection as a result.

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

Women often do not have any symptoms. If they do, these can include unusual vaginal discharge, unusual vaginal bleeding (especially after sex), lower abdominal pain (including pain during sexual intercourse), or discomfort when passing urine.

Many men do not have any symptoms. If they do, these can include soreness or redness at the opening of the penis, discomfort when passing urine, and clear or whitish discharge from the penis.

Both men and women can have infection with chlamydia in the rectum if they have anal sex. This may cause rectal discharge or discomfort, but often no symptoms occur. Chlamydial infection of the throat may occur, but is uncommon and usually does not cause any symptoms.

How long do symptoms take to develop?

Symptoms can occur within two to 14 days of infection. However, many infected individuals do not have obvious symptoms and can remain infectious for months or even years without knowing it. Chlamydia can be transmitted to others whether a person has symptoms or not.

What is the test for chlamydia?

The best way to find out if you have chlamydia is to have a sexual health check-up. Women need to have an examination if a full check-up is being done but sometimes just a urine sample is enough. Men need to give a urine sample to test for chlamydia. If rectal infection is suspected, a swab is taken from just inside the anus.

How is chlamydia treated?

Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics. Standard treatment takes seven days but single-dose treatment is also available. It is important to finish all the antibiotics, otherwise the infection may not be properly treated.

Why should I worry about getting chlamydia?

Women: If left untreated, chlamydia may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is when the reproductive organs, situated in the pelvis, become inflamed. PID may cause ectopic pregnancies (the pregnancy develops in the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus), infertility (when the fallopian tubes become damaged by scar tissue preventing further pregnancy) or chronic pelvic pain.

Babies: Chlamydia can be passed from mother to baby during birth. The baby may subsequently develop eye and/or ear infections, or pneumonia.

Men: If not treated, chlamydia can spread to the testicles, leading to pain and swelling. Chlamydia may occasionally cause infertility in men. Sometimes chlamydia may trigger a condition called Reiter's disease (or 'sexually acquired reactive arthritis') which causes inflammation of the eyes, skin and joints.

Do sexual partners need treatment?

If you have had sex without a condom with your sexual partner(s) it is very likely they are infected with chlamydia. This means it is important they have a sexual health check-up and be treated for chlamydia regardless of symptoms or test results.

How do I look after myself if I have been infected?

• Take your medication as advised by your healthcare professional. Even if you feel better, finish all the antibiotics. Symptoms may improve in a few days but the bacteria may still be in your body.
• Avoid having sexual intercourse without a condom during treatment because the infection can still be transmitted. If you receive single-dose therapy you should avoid sex without a condom for seven days after treatment and until seven days after your partner(s) have been treated.
• If you are using a combined oral contraceptive pill you will need to use a condom for 14 days when having sex, as antibiotics can affect the reliability of the contraceptive pill. Ask your doctor or nurse if unsure.
• After completing the treatment, phone your doctor or return to the clinic for a follow-up check after three months to check you have not been re-infected.

Original material provided by Auckland Sexual Health Service, June 2007. Reviewed by everybody, May 2008.