Chlamydia

Chlamydia can be contracted by unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse with a chlamydia carrier.

Even if you've had chlamydia in the past and received treatment, you can develop it again. It can also pass from mother to kid after childbirth.

Spreading Chlamydia does not require penetrative intercourse. Skin-to-skin genital contact, as well as infected sperm or vaginal fluid coming into contact with the eyes, is a well-known mechanism of spreading chlamydia.

The use of condoms correctly and consistently reduces the risk of infection during anal, vaginal, or oral sexual contact. The WHO STI guideline suggests topical ocular prophylaxis for all neonates to prevent gonococcal and chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum (eye infection).

Approximately 70% of women and 50% of men are asymptomatic. If you do experience symptoms, they can take several forms. Women may have irregular vaginal discharge, urination pain or a burning sensation, or bleeding after sex and between periods. Men may have discharge from the penis, pain or a burning sensation while peeing, and occasionally testicular pain.

Most genital infections cure naturally without causing any health problems if left untreated, but untreated chlamydial infection can cause major complications, particularly in young women, such as inflammation of the Fallopian tubes (tube than transport eggs from the ovary to the womb). This may result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can result in ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb) and infertility.

Men have fewer health issues, but the most prevalent one is inflammation of the tube that stores and transports sperm. Rarely, this can result in inability to have a child.

Repeated infection may raise the chance of consequences. Non-genital infections are also rather prevalent. Rectal infection can cause symptoms such as rectal discharge, discomfort, or blood in the faeces, although in most cases, no symptoms are present. Throat infections can induce symptoms such as throat enlargement and moderate sore throat, but these are uncommon.

Chlamydial infection during pregnancy has been associated to premature birth and low birth weight. Infants born to chlamydia-infected moms might get infected during birth, resulting in eye infection or pneumonia.

Chlamydia diagnosis requires laboratory tests. The test can be performed with a variety of materials, including urine or cotton swabs to obtain a sample of the vagina.

However, because laboratory diagnostic tests are not accessible in many countries, a skilled health care professional may treat you based on symptoms such as vaginal and urethral discharge.

There have been significant advancements in the detection of gonorrhoea, including the use of quick molecular diagnostic assays, some of which are combined with chlamydia diagnostics.

Chlamydia is almost often entirely curable with medications and normally resolves in a matter of days or weeks.

Following BASHH guidelines, our clinicians will prescribe antibiotics for Chlamydia.

To see whether you are in an area for free testing please go to Sexwise
Sexwise provide details of the channels you can get a free testing kit.

​​​​​​FreeTest.me offers free home testing kits for chlamydia and some other STIS, including HIV. The service is only available in participating regions of the UK and may have age restrictions. Visit freetest.me to see if you can order a kit.

SH:24 is an online sexual and reproductive health service delivered in partnership with the NHS. It provides free sexually transmitted infection (STI) test kits, chlamydia treatment, contraception, information and advice 24 hours a day. Clinicians are available to answer your questions about sexual or reproductive health. Free STI test kits are available in participating regions of the UK.

THT is a national HIV and sexual health charity. They offer free chlamydia tests by post and HIV self tests and self sampling kits in participating regions of the UK.

Virgin Care offers free home testing kits for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis for people over 16 in various regions of the UK

To see whether you are in an area for free testing please go to Sexwise
Sexwise provide details of the channels you can get a free testing kit.

​​​​​​FreeTest.me offers free home testing kits for chlamydia and some other STIS, including HIV. The service is only available in participating regions of the UK and may have age restrictions. Visit freetest.me to see if you can order a kit.

SH:24 is an online sexual and reproductive health service delivered in partnership with the NHS. It provides free sexually transmitted infection (STI) test kits, chlamydia treatment, contraception, information and advice 24 hours a day. Clinicians are available to answer your questions about sexual or reproductive health. Free STI test kits are available in participating regions of the UK.

THT is a national HIV and sexual health charity. They offer free chlamydia tests by post and HIV self tests and self sampling kits in participating regions of the UK.

Virgin Care offers free home testing kits for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis for people over 16 in various regions of the UK