Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs and is caused by a type of bacteria.
You can get chlamydia by having unprotected (sex without a condom) vaginal, anal or oral sex. Other ways of getting chlamydia include:
- Sharing sex toys that aren’t washed or covered with a new condom each time they’re used
- Infected semen or vaginal fluid getting into your eye
Any sexually active person can get chlamydia. It’s most common among people under the age of 30.
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Symptoms
Often there are no symptoms – that is why it is important to get tested if you think you may be infected.
If you do get symptoms, it’s usually 1 to 3 weeks after having unprotected sex. Some people don’t get symptoms until months later.
People who do get symptoms can experience:
- a discharge from the vagina or penis;
- stinging/burning sensation when passing urine;
- abnormal bleeding or pain during sex (in women).
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Testing
The test for chlamydia is simple, painless and very reliable. It involves sending a sample from the area of the body thought to be infected to a lab for analysis.
The 2 main ways the sample can be collected are:
- Using a swab – a small cotton bud is gently wiped over the area that might be infected, such as inside the vagina, throat, or inside the anus
- Urine sample (if you have a penis) – this is more accurate if it’s at least 1 or 2 hours after you last peed
- People who have had anal or oral sex may have a swab taken from their anus or throat
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Treatment
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. If chlamydia is left untreated, you may pass it on to other sexual partners.
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Complications
If untreated, chlamydia can sometimes spread and cause potentially serious problems.
In women, chlamydia can spread to the womb, ovaries or fallopian tubes. This can cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
If men are not treated, the infection may spread to the testicles and cause discomfort. This could affect your fertility.