Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsHow Do You Get It?ScreeningTreatmentIs It Curable?ComplicationsReducing RiskOutlookNext in Chlamydia GuideChlamydia Symptoms
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
How Do You Get It?
Screening
Treatment
Is It Curable?
Complications
Reducing Risk
Outlook
Next in Chlamydia Guide
Chlamydia spreads through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Most people with chlamydia don’t show symptoms, but the infection can cause serious complications if left untreated. Regular screening can help catch asymptomatic cases of chlamydia. Chlamydia can usually be cured with antibiotics.
This article discusses the symptoms, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and prevention of chlamydia.
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What Are the Symptoms of Chlamydia?
Most people with chlamydia do not havesymptoms. If symptoms are present, they vary depending on where the infection is located.
Symptoms of Chlamydia in Men
Symptoms of chlamydia in people who have penises may include:
Symptoms in men are more likely to occur in the morning.
Symptoms of Chlamydia in Women
Symptoms of chlamydia in people who have vaginas may include:
If untreated, the infection may spread beyond the vagina and cervix. This may cause symptoms such as:
Symptoms of Chlamydia in All Genders
People of all genders can get chlamydia in the rectum through receptive anal sex or if the infection spreads from another location, such as the vagina.
Symptoms of chlamydia in the rectum may include:
Chlamydiainfections of the eyeare also possible and may cause symptoms such as:
How Long Can You Have Chlamydia Without Knowing?
Chlamydia is referred to as a “silent disease” because people with the infection are often asymptomatic. Approximately 50% of males and 70% of females with chlamydia have no symptoms and/or are unaware they are infected.
If chlamydia does cause symptoms, theytypically appearbetween one and three weeks after exposure to the infection but can take many months to develop.
Symptoms may also appear and then go away after a few days. This does not mean the infection is gone.
Even if you don’t have symptoms, chlamydia can be passed to others.
How Is Chlamydia Transmitted?
Chlamydia can be transmitted through:
Ejaculation does not have to occur for chlamydia to spread.
Can You Get Chlamydia From Oral Sex?
It is possible to get chlamydia from oral sex. Chlamydia is transmitted through semen, pre-cum fluid, and vaginal fluids and can infectthe throat.
What Doesn’t Cause Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is not spread through casual contact such as:
Can You Get Chlamydia in the Throat?Oral chlamydiais less common than genital chlamydia and typically doesn’t produce symptoms. It is possible to have soreness and redness in the throat or mouth with oral chlamydia. Using condoms and dental dams (a piece of thin, soft plastic or latex used to cover the vulva) during oral sex can help prevent oral chlamydia.
Can You Get Chlamydia in the Throat?
Oral chlamydiais less common than genital chlamydia and typically doesn’t produce symptoms. It is possible to have soreness and redness in the throat or mouth with oral chlamydia. Using condoms and dental dams (a piece of thin, soft plastic or latex used to cover the vulva) during oral sex can help prevent oral chlamydia.
Screening for Chlamydia
If you have symptoms of chlamydia or have been exposed to it, you can betested for chlamydiaand other STIs at:
Testing is done using aurine sampleand/or a swab of the vagina, urethra, anus, eyes, cervix, and/or throat.
Regular screening for chlamydia is also important because a chlamydia infection can cause serious complications, even if symptoms aren’t present. Catching and treating the infection early helps lower this risk.
Screening protocols depend on several criteria, including age, sex, sexual activity, and other risk factors. More research is needed to understand better the screening needs for specific populations, such as members of the LGBTQ+ community and trans and nonbinary individuals.
At-Home Chlamydia Testing
At-home testing kitsare available for use if you do not have symptoms of chlamydia and have not knowingly been exposed to it. If you have symptoms or suspect you have been exposed to chlamydia or any STI, it’s important to see your healthcare provider immediately instead of doing an at-home test. This prevents a delay in treatment.
Make sure you carefully follow the instructions for the at-home test.
CDC Screening RecommendationsGuidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on screening for chlamydia include:Yearly testing for sexually active women younger than 25 years oldYearly testing for sexually active women age 25 or over who have risk factors (such as new or multiple sex partners)(At least) yearly testing for men who have sex with men (MSM)Routine screening considered for sexually active young men in clinical settings where there is a high prevalence of chlamydia (such as correctional facilities, adolescent clinics, and STI clinics)Pregnant people should be screenedPeople whose partner hasan STIshould be testedScreening for men under age 30 and women age 35 and under at intake in correctional facilitiesRetesting people who have been treated for chlamydia three months after treatmentScreening transgender individuals based on their anatomy and sexual practices
CDC Screening Recommendations
Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on screening for chlamydia include:Yearly testing for sexually active women younger than 25 years oldYearly testing for sexually active women age 25 or over who have risk factors (such as new or multiple sex partners)(At least) yearly testing for men who have sex with men (MSM)Routine screening considered for sexually active young men in clinical settings where there is a high prevalence of chlamydia (such as correctional facilities, adolescent clinics, and STI clinics)Pregnant people should be screenedPeople whose partner hasan STIshould be testedScreening for men under age 30 and women age 35 and under at intake in correctional facilitiesRetesting people who have been treated for chlamydia three months after treatmentScreening transgender individuals based on their anatomy and sexual practices
Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on screening for chlamydia include:
Chlamydia Treatment
Chlamydia istreated with antibiotics, most commonly the antibioticdoxycycline. Antibiotics may be prescribed as a one-dose treatment or a seven-day treatment.
Your sexual partner(s) must also be tested and treated (if necessary) to prevent reinfection.
Your healthcare provider may suggest getting retested at a set time after treatment (typically three months) to make sure the infection is completely cleared.
Can Chlamydia Go Away on Its Own?
Irreversible damage can occur if you wait to see if your body will fight off the infection. Prompt treatment isthe best way to prevent complicationsthat can be serious and permanent.
When Can You Resume Sex After Having Chlamydia?
If you or your partner or partners have chlamydia, you should avoid having sex:
How to Notify Your Partner(s) You Have Chlamydia
If you receive achlamydia diagnosis, it’s important to tell recent sex partners (people with whom you had vaginal, anal, or oral sex in the 60 days before symptoms started or were diagnosed) so that they can get tested and start treatment if necessary.
There is no specific right way to tell your partner, but some tips include:
Is Chlamydia Curable?
You can become reinfected with chlamydia even after successful treatment. Measures such as using condoms and dental dams use must be used to prevent getting chlamydia again.
Complications of Untreated Chlamydia
Left untreated, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in people with a uterus, which can cause complications such as:
People with penises are less likely to experience health problems from chlamydia, but complications can occur, such as:
Regardless of gender, chlamydia can lead to complications such as:
Pregnancy and Chlamydia
A chlamydia infection can cause health problemsduring pregnancy and birth. These can include:
Pregnant people should be screened for chlamydia at the first prenatal visit. Treatments are available that are safe during pregnancy and can lower the risk of complications from the infection.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Chlamydia
Some ways to helplower the riskof contracting or spreading chlamydia include:
The CDC recommends that men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) who have had a bacterial STI (specifically syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea) diagnosed in the past 12 months or who have had condomless oral, anal, or vaginal sex should receive counseling from a healthcare provider that doxy PEP can be used as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent these infections. Oral doxycycline is taken once within 72 hours of condomless oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
Outlook for Chlamydia
With proper antibiotic treatment, more than 95% of people with chlamydiawill be cured.
Untreated chlamydia, and repeated chlamydia infections, can lead to lasting complications such as PID, so early and thorough treatment is important for a good long-term outlook.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC estimates 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a sexually transmitted infection.Planned Parenthood.Chlamydia.Government of Canada.Chlamydia.Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.MedlinePlus.Chlamydia infections.National Health Service.Chlamydia.US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea: us preventive services task force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;326(10):949. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.14081MedlinePlus.Chlamydia test.Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona.STD awareness: will STDs go away on their own?Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.Planned Parenthood.Get tested.Office on Women’s Health.Chlamydia.Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.CDC clinical guidelines on the use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infection prevention, United States, 2024.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC estimates 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a sexually transmitted infection.Planned Parenthood.Chlamydia.Government of Canada.Chlamydia.Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.MedlinePlus.Chlamydia infections.National Health Service.Chlamydia.US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea: us preventive services task force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;326(10):949. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.14081MedlinePlus.Chlamydia test.Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona.STD awareness: will STDs go away on their own?Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.Planned Parenthood.Get tested.Office on Women’s Health.Chlamydia.Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.CDC clinical guidelines on the use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infection prevention, United States, 2024.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC estimates 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a sexually transmitted infection.Planned Parenthood.Chlamydia.Government of Canada.Chlamydia.Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.MedlinePlus.Chlamydia infections.National Health Service.Chlamydia.US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea: us preventive services task force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;326(10):949. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.14081MedlinePlus.Chlamydia test.Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona.STD awareness: will STDs go away on their own?Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.Planned Parenthood.Get tested.Office on Women’s Health.Chlamydia.Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.CDC clinical guidelines on the use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infection prevention, United States, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC estimates 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a sexually transmitted infection.
Planned Parenthood.Chlamydia.
Government of Canada.Chlamydia.
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.
MedlinePlus.Chlamydia infections.
National Health Service.Chlamydia.
US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea: us preventive services task force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;326(10):949. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.14081
MedlinePlus.Chlamydia test.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona.STD awareness: will STDs go away on their own?
Planned Parenthood.Get tested.
Office on Women’s Health.Chlamydia.
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.CDC clinical guidelines on the use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infection prevention, United States, 2024.
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