Chlamydia

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects millions of people every year. Chlamydia is spread by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the disease. Babies can get chlamydia at birth if the mother has it.
 

How Do I Know if I Have Chlamydia?

Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may not appear until weeks later. Symptoms may include:

• Painful or frequent urination
• Discharge from the vagina or penis
• Anal discomfort
• Bleeding between periods (women)
• Pain during sex (women)
• Stomach or abdominal pain (women)
• Pain or swelling in the testicles (men)
   

Should I Get Tested for Chlamydia?

The only way to know if you have chlamydia is to get tested at your doctor’s office or an STD clinic. Your doctor may ask you to provide a urine sample or use a swab to get a sample of fluid from the cervix, penis, rectum, or throat. Getting tested and treated early is the key to avoiding major health problems later.
 

Can Chlamydia Be Cured?

Most cases of chlamydia can be cured by taking medicine for a short time. Be sure your sex partner(s) also get treated or you could get infected again.
 

What Happens if Chlamydia is Not Treated?

Left untreated, chlamydia can cause lasting damage to the body.
 

In Women, It Can Cause:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious infection of the sex organs 
• Ectopic pregnancy, a potentially deadly pregnancy outside the uterus
• Infertility (not being able to get pregnant)
• Chronic pelvic pain
   

In Men, It Can Cause:

• severe pain in the penis and testicles
• sterility (not being able to father children)

In addition, babies born to mothers with chlamydia may have eye and lung problems.
 

If You Have Chlamydia or Any Other STD:

• Take all the medicine given to you
• Do not share your medicine
• Ask your sex partner(s) to get checked
• Do not have sex until a health care provider says you and your partner(s) are cured
• Do not try to treat yourself
• Get retested three months after treatment
   

You Should Get Tested for Chlamydia If:

• You or your partner(s) have symptoms of chlamydia
• You have had multiple sex partners (more partners = greater risk)
• You have another STD
• Your partner tells you that they are being tested or treated for an STD
   

You Should Get Tested for Chlamydia Once a Year If:

• You are a sexually active woman under age 25
• You are a woman age 25 or older with new or multiple sex partners
• You are a man who has sex with other men
   

What About HIV and Chlamydia?

Chlamydia increases the chances that HIV can be transmitted. If you get tested for an STD, it is a good idea to get tested for HIV.
 

How Can You Stay Healthy?

The only sure way to avoid chlamydia and other STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you have sex, use a latex condom the right way every time. Have sex with one partner who has sex only with you. Use condoms unless you are sure your partner does not have chlamydia or other STDs.

Chlamydia Resources

Where to get tested for Chlamydia

Chlamydia information from CDC

Texas Infertility Prevention Project (TIPP)
The National Infertility Prevention Project is a multi-state demonstration project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The project's overall mission is to implement effective prevention strategies to reduce the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) and its potentially destructive complications.

Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT)
EPT is the practice of giving medication to sex partners of persons with an STD without medical evaluation or prevention counseling. It is assumed they have the infection.

Treatment Guidelines
Includes treatment recommendations for Chlamydia.

Texas STD Surveillance Report
This report includes Chlamydia infection rates and demographic data for Texas.