Chlamydia is a bacterial infection and the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).
Chlamydia can be passed on through vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
The bacteria that cause chlamydia are unable to survive outside the body for long periods of time. Chlamydia is not spread through hugging and kissing, sharing baths, swimming in a shared pool, cups or toilet seats.
Most people with chlamydia will not have symptoms. It is therefore important to get tested regularly, especially when you have a new sexual partner.
A person with chlamydia may experience symptoms anytime from weeks to years after the initial infection.
When symptoms do occur they can cause changes in vaginal discharge, pelvic pain or irregular periods. They can also cause pain when urinating and a discharge from the end of the penis.
It is possible for some people to experience long term problems from chlamydia, including reduced fertility, an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy and chronic testicular pain.
If chlamydia is present when giving birth it can pass from the pregnancy person to their child, potentially leading to eye infections and pneumonia.
Chlamydia can also cause problems with infections in the joints as well as increasing the chances of getting or passing on HIV.
The test for chlamydia is a vaginal swab for people with a vagina, or a urine test for people with a penis. If you have had oral or anal sex then a swab may also be taken from either your throat or rectum.
You can order a postal STI test here or find a clinic to get tested.
Chlamydia may take two weeks to show up in a test from the time of infection.
As soon as your test results are available we will send you a text message. If the result is positive for chlamydia we will let you know how to get treatment.
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotic tablets. After you and your partner are treated you should not have sex for 7 days. Three months after you have treated the infection you should re-test for chlamydia.
If you have chlamydia, you should tell all current sexual partners as well as anyone else you have had sex with in the last six months. Current and previous partners may have chlamydia without knowing, so it is important for them to be tested.
They may be able to tell if you have symptoms of infection, but many people don't have symptoms, meaning their partners wont be able to tell. However, you should tell your partner if you have chlamydia as they will need testing and may need treatment.
Recurrent chlamydia or untreated chlamydia can affect your fertility. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of the infection is likely to minimise this risk.
