Chlamydia Symptoms, Risk Factors & Tests

Chlamydia is a very common STD that, according to the CDC, is the most frequently reported STD in the United States with approximately 2.86 million reports of infection annually.

As 90% of women and as 70% of men who are living with chlamydia will not experience any symptoms.
The only way to be sure about whether or not you have Chlamydia is to Get Tested.

Women with chlamydia symptoms may notice:

• Irregular vaginal discharge
• Pain during urination
• Pain during sex 
• Abdominal pain 
• Rectal pain
• Spotting or bleeding between periods 
• Spotting or bleeding after sex
• Inflammation of the eye
• Pain in the lower back 
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Nausea

Men with chlamydia symptoms may notice:

• Pain during urination 
• Irregular discharge from the penis 
• Rectal pain
• Rectal discharge 
• Rectal bleeding 
• Inflammation of the eye 
• A burning or itching sensation at the opening of the penis 
• Testicular swelling and/or pain
• Sore throat

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What is usually the first sign of chlamydia? 

In women, the first sign of chlamydia is usually irregular vaginal discharge and/or pain during urination. 

In men, the first sign of chlamydia is usually irregular discharge from the penis and/or pain during urination.

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What type of long-term damage can chlamydia cause?

Untreated, chlamydia can lead to a host of major consequences to your health, including PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), which can have a devastating effect of fertility over long periods of time as well as increased susceptibility to HIV/AIDS.

Men are also at a high risk of the chlamydia infection spreading to other areas of the penis, testicles and prostate, causing major pain and inflammation.

Over time, men are also at risk of suffering from infertility due to untreated Chlamydia.

Can chlamydia be cured?

Yes. The good news is that with a healthy dose of a specific type of antibiotics as azithromycin or doxycycline, chlamydia infections can be cured with relative ease.

Keep in mind that you’ll have to abstain from sexual activity for a period of 7 days, and if you want to avoid being infected again, you’ll have to make sure your partner is also being treated.

If you are pregnant, receiving treatment for chlamydia usually will prevent the transmission of the disease to your child during birth.

It’s advised to retest yourself approximately 3-4 weeks after treatment in order to ensure you haven’t been re-infected. This is recommended because many people experience a chlamydia reinfection within the first few months after receiving treatment.

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Annual chlamydia testing

• All women 25 years old and younger who have sex
• Women older than 25 with risk factors (a new sex partner you have known for less than six months or multiple sex partners)
• All pregnant women
• Men who have sex with men (MSM)

Stop having sex immediately and see a doctor if you have any of the following genital symptoms:

• Discharge or burning during urination
• An unusual sore or rash

FAQ

I’m pregnant. How does chlamydia affect my baby?

According to the CDC, if you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection to your baby during delivery. This could cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your newborn. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to deliver your baby too early.

If you are pregnant, you should get tested for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit. Testing and treatment are the best ways to prevent health problems.

Does chlamydia stay in the body after it’s been cured?

Nope! Chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotics. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, which means that once you’ve been treated and tested negative for it (to make sure the antibiotics worked), it’s gone. Your doctor will tell you exactly what type of antibiotics you need, and when to get tested again to make sure the antibiotics worked.

Can you test yourself for chlamydia at home?

You can now use an at home chlamydia test to identify whether or not you have chlamydia from the comfort of home.

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Can you tell if someone has chlamydia just by looking at them?

You will not be able to tell if someone has chlamydia just by looking at them. Chlamydia is known as a “silent STD”, for this reason, it is so important to get tested on a regular basis, because if chlamydia is left untreated, it can lead to further health complications such as pelvic inflammatory disorder which can affect female fertility.

Can I have an STD without knowing it?

The tricky thing about STDs is that you don’t always know that you have one. It’s very possible to have certain STDs and remain symptom-free or have mild symptoms you mistake for another illness. The worst part is, you can still spread the disease even if you aren’t symptomatic. You can have chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, and HPV without showing immediate symptoms.

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Does chlamydia have a smell?

Chlamydia often presents with a smell in cases where there is irregular discharge present. 

If you are experiencing an off-white or yellowish discharge, it may carry a foul fish smell. 

What should you do if you get a positive chlamydia test result?

The good news is chlamydia can be treated easily with a course of antibiotics. If you get a positive result for chlamydia, you must not have sex until the infection has been cleared via treatment. It is also essential that you reach out to previous partners and notify them so they can get tested to.