Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States and worldwide. If you’re worried about chlamydia or just want to learn more, you’re in the right place. This guide covers everything you need to know—from symptoms and testing to treatment and prevention. The good news is that chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics, but catching it early is important since untreated infections can lead to serious health problems. Let’s dive into the essential facts about chlamydia in clear, straightforward language.
Chlamydia is a common bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis). It spreads through sexual contact and can affect both men and women of any age, though it’s most common among younger people. The infection can happen in the genitals, rectum, or throat, depending on the type of sexual contact.
What makes chlamydia tricky is that most infected people don’t show any symptoms at all. That’s why it’s sometimes called a “silent” infection. Even without symptoms, the bacteria can still damage your body and can be passed to sexual partners.
Chlamydia is especially concerning because if left untreated, it can cause serious health problems. For women, untreated chlamydia can cause permanent damage to the reproductive system, making it difficult or impossible to get pregnant later. It can also cause a dangerous condition called ectopic pregnancy, where a pregnancy develops outside the womb.
As mentioned, chlamydia often causes no symptoms at all. In fact, about 75% of women and 50% of men with chlamydia don’t notice any signs of infection. But that doesn’t mean the infection isn’t causing damage or can’t be spread to others.
When symptoms do appear, they usually show up several weeks after exposure to the chlamydia bacteria. The specific symptoms depend on the person’s sex and where in the body the infection is located.
Men who develop symptoms of chlamydia might notice:
For women who develop symptoms, they might include:
Women need to be especially vigilant about getting tested for chlamydia even without symptoms. This is because untreated chlamydia in women can silently spread to the reproductive organs, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy.
The numbers tell a compelling story about how common chlamydia is and who it affects most. In 2020, there were an estimated 128.5 million new chlamydia infections globally among adults aged 15-49. That’s a staggering number that highlights how widespread this infection is.
In the United States, chlamydia continues to be the most commonly reported bacterial STI. Looking at the data from 2023 from the CDC, the highest rates of chlamydia were reported in young adults aged 20-24 years.
Why are young people and women more affected? There are several reasons:
Chlamydia spreads primarily through sexual contact. Understanding exactly how transmission occurs can help you better protect yourself and your partners. The main ways chlamydia spreads include:
Preventing chlamydia involves a combination of safe sex practices, open communication, and regular testing. Here are effective strategies to reduce your risk:
Condoms are one of the best ways to prevent chlamydia and other STIs. For effective protection:
Regular testing is essential, especially if you’re sexually active with multiple sex partners, especially if you have had unprotected sex. The CDC recommends:
Having fewer sexual partners reduces your exposure risk. If you do have multiple partners, consistent condom use becomes even more important.
Have honest conversations about sexual health before intimacy. Ask about testing history and discuss using protection. While these conversations can feel awkward, they’re an important part of taking care of your health and showing respect for your partners.
If you find out a partner has chlamydia, get tested and treated right away. Prompt treatment prevents complications and breaks the chain of transmission.
While chlamydia isn’t spread through casual contact, practicing good hygiene is always important for overall sexual health:
By combining these strategies, you can significantly reduce your risk of contracting chlamydia and other STIs.
If you test positive for chlamydia, don’t panic. The infection is highly treatable with antibiotics. The sooner you start treatment, the better—untreated chlamydia can cause serious complications and be spread easily to others.
The CDC recommends these treatments for uncomplicated chlamydia infections:
OR
In some cases, your doctor might prescribe:
When taking antibiotics for chlamydia:
If you’re pregnant and have chlamydia, treatment is especially important to prevent passing the infection to your baby during birth. Pregnant women are typically treated with azithromycin, as doxycycline isn’t recommended during pregnancy.
After completing treatment:
While chlamydia is primarily transmitted through sexual activity, in rare cases, it can be transmitted through non-sexual means. Newborns can get chlamydia during birth if their mother is infected. Additionally, if someone touches infected genital fluids and then touches their eyes, they could develop a chlamydial eye infection. However, you cannot get chlamydia from toilet seats, sharing towels, or hugging.
If symptoms occur, they typically appear 1-3 weeks after exposure to the bacteria. However, it’s important to remember that most chlamydia infections (up to 75% in women and 50% in men) cause no symptoms at all.
Yes, chlamydia can be transmitted in this way. If you give oral sex to a partner with a genital chlamydia infection, you can develop a chlamydial infection in your throat. Similarly, receiving oral sex from someone with a throat infection could lead to a genital infection. While less common than transmission through vaginal or anal sex, oral transmission is still possible.
Some studies suggest that in a small percentage of cases, the body may clear a chlamydia infection without treatment. However, there’s no reliable way to know if this will happen in any particular case. Waiting to see if an infection clears on its own is risky because:
For these reasons, medical experts always recommend antibiotic treatment for chlamydia rather than waiting.
When used correctly and consistently, condoms are highly effective at preventing the transmission of chlamydia. Research shows that among people with known exposure to chlamydia, consistent condom users had a significantly lower infection rate (13.3%) compared to inconsistent users (34.4%). This represents a 90% reduction in risk compared to unprotected sex. However, condoms must be used for all forms of sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral) to provide protection.
The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for:
More frequent testing (every 3-6 months) may be recommended for those with multiple partners or other high-risk behaviors. You can do this privately or at home.