The most common bacterial STI globally. Often completely silent with no symptoms. A leading cause of preventable infertility in both men and women. Easily treated with a single dose of antibiotics.
Know that most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur in women: unusual vaginal discharge, burning when urinating, pelvic pain, bleeding between periods or after sex. In men: discharge from the penis, burning when urinating, testicular pain.
Get tested. Chlamydia testing is a urine sample or genital swab. It cannot be diagnosed by symptoms alone because most people have none.
Stop sexual activity until testing is complete and treatment is given.
Inform all sexual partners from the past 60 days. They need testing and treatment regardless of symptoms.
Both partners must be treated simultaneously — treating only one person causes immediate reinfection.
Azithromycin single dose is the standard treatment — highly effective and convenient.
Test for other STIs at the same time — co-infection with gonorrhoea is common. Request HIV and syphilis testing.
Retest 3 months after treatment — reinfection from untreated partners is common.
Pelvic or lower abdominal pain with fever — pelvic inflammatory disease.
Severe testicular pain and swelling.
Eye infection in a newborn.
Symptoms returning after treatment — possible reinfection or resistance.
Untreated chlamydia in women causes pelvic inflammatory disease — a leading cause of ectopic pregnancy and infertility.
Untreated chlamydia in men causes epididymitis and can cause infertility.
Chlamydia during pregnancy increases risk of premature delivery and eye and lung infection in the newborn.
Having chlamydia doubles the risk of acquiring HIV.
✓ What Helps
· Azithromycin 1g single oral dose — first-line, highly effective
· Doxycycline 100mg twice daily for 7 days — alternative, avoid in pregnancy
✗ What To Avoid
· Doxycycline in pregnancy and children under 12
· Self-treating without testing — many conditions mimic chlamydia
→ Ask The Pharmacist For
· Chlamydia urine test or swab at a clinic
· HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhoea testing at the same visit
· Azithromycin single dose — most pharmacies stock this
🏥 Get Professional Help
Get tested at a clinic for all suspected chlamydia. Go immediately for pelvic pain with fever or severe testicular pain. All recent sexual partners must be notified and tested.
How did I get chlamydia if I have no symptoms?
Chlamydia is extremely common and most infected people have no symptoms for months or years. You can have it and not know. Regular testing — especially after new sexual partners — is the only reliable way to know.
Does chlamydia go away on its own?
No. Without treatment it persists and continues to cause damage silently. The damage to the reproductive system from untreated chlamydia is cumulative and can become permanent.