Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria. The infection may occur in the rectum (the part of your intestine that ends at the anus), throat and urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder). The infection may also occur in the opening to the uterus, also known as the cervix, and the fallopian tubes.
To find out if you have chlamydia, you need to visit a health care provider and have lab tests done. Some areas also have express testing available. Visit GetCheckedOnline or your local health authority website for more information.
Chlamydia is passed from one person to another by contact with body fluids containing the bacteria during unprotected oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Sometimes a person with chlamydia will have no symptoms. Even without symptoms, the infection passes easily to another person.
A person with a chlamydia infection can pass the infection to others until they complete antibiotic treatment. If you are pregnant, you may pass the infection to your baby's eyes during childbirth. This may lead to blindness if the baby is not treated. If you have chlamydia during pregnancy, the baby may develop pneumonia.
Chlamydia treatment does not protect you from getting it again. If you are treated and your sex partner(s) is not, the bacteria could pass back to you again.
Often people with chlamydia will have no symptoms and will not know that they have the infection.
A chlamydia infection in the rectum may cause discharge from the anus, rectal pain, mucous with stools, painful bowel movements and redness in the anal area.
For external genitals (penis), symptoms can include:
For internal genitals (vagina), symptoms can include:
Chlamydia infection may occur in the throat but does not usually cause symptoms.
Symptoms may appear 2 to 3 weeks after exposure to the bacteria. Sometimes it can take as long as 6 weeks for the symptoms to appear, if at all.
If treated in time, chlamydia causes no lasting concerns. Untreated chlamydia can lead to complications as the infection spreads to other areas of the body.
Complications may include difficulty getting pregnant, ectopic or tubal pregnancy or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Visit HealthLinkBC File #08c Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) for more information.
Complications may include an infection in the testicles, which can lead to infertility.
If left untreated, chlamydia may cause sexually acquired reactive arthritis,hich includes skin, eye and joint problems. It is also associated with a higher chance of getting HIV.
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. It is important to follow the treatment instructions carefully. If you are given pills, finish all of them. Sexual partners from the last 2 months need to be tested and treated. If you have not had a sexual partner in the last 2 months, then your last sexual partner will need to be tested and treated. It takes time for the infection to clear from the body, so it is important that you do not have any oral, insertive (vaginal) or anal sex for 7 days after you and your partner(s) start the antibiotic treatment.
Ensure you or your partner(s) finish the treatment. If you miss pills, experience vomiting after taking the pills or have unprotected sex before you have finished all the medication, there is a chance that the infection will stay in your body. This may pass the infection back to you or your partner(s) and cause health problems later. If this happens, talk with your health care provider who will help you to decide if you or your partners need more treatment.
You should take a follow-up test after 3 months because re-infection is common. If you are pregnant, or breastfeeding or chestfeeding, you should have a follow-up test 3 to 4 weeks after completing treatment.
There is very little evidence to show that antibiotics make hormonal forms of birth control work less effectively. Examples of hormonal birth control include the pill, the patch, the ring or the shot. If you are being treated with antibiotics, it is important to keep using your birth control as you normally would. If you have concerns, use condoms until your next period starts after completing the antibiotics. Speak to your health care provider for more information.
When used correctly, external (“male”) and internal (“female”) condoms help prevent the spread of many STIs during vaginal, anal and oral sex. Condoms are less effective at protecting against STIs transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes simplex virus, genital warts (human papillomavirus (HPV)), and syphilis (when sores are present).
A dental dam is a piece of thin latex that is placed over the vagina/internal genitals or anus during oral sex. It can also be called a latex barrier/sheet, latex dam, oral dam or sheet. Dental dams are a good way to lower the chance of getting or passing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
There are medications that can lower your chances of getting or passing on certain STIs. For more information, visit HealthLinkBC File #08o Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Some STIs, such as hepatitis A, B and human papillomavirus (HPV) can be prevented with vaccines. Talk to your health care provider about how to get these vaccinations.
If you have recently changed sexual partners, or have multiple sex partners, getting regularly tested for STIs will tell you if you have an infection. Some people can have an STI and not have any symptoms. Finding and treating an STI reduces the chances of passing infections on to your partner(s).
The more partners you have, the higher your chance of getting exposed to STIs is.
Talk to your partner(s) about STIs and how you would like to prevent them before having sex. If you are having trouble discussing safer sex with your partner(s), talk about it with your health care provider or a counsellor.
For tips on how to talk to your partner(s), visit the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Smart Sex Resource https://smartsexresource.com/sexual-health/partners-communication/talking-to-your-partners/.
If you have a sexually transmitted infection and are sexually active, it is important to tell your sexual partner(s). This will enable them to make decisions about their health and testing.
For more information on how you can reduce your chance of getting an STI, visit HealthLinkBC File #08o Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
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