Chlamydia

Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacteria that is passed from one person to another through sex. It can cause problems if it's left untreated and so getting a test after unprotected sex is important.

What is it?

Chlamydia is caused by a type of bacteria called Chlamydia Trachomatis and it is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK. It won’t cause any problems if it is found and treated early and it is relatively easy to treat.

However, it can cause problems if it is left untreated. These could be infertility (difficulty becoming pregnant), ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the fallopian tube) and low abdominal pain caused by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in people with vaginas. In people with penises, chlamydia can cause painful, swollen testicles (epididymo-orchitis).

How do I get it?

Chlamydia is passed from one person to another during unprotected sex- this includes vaginal, oral and anal sex. You can catch it from sex toys if you do not wash them or cover them with a new condom each time they are used. Occasionally it can cause an eye infection if it is passed from the fingers to the eyes. It could also be passed on from a mother to her baby at birth causing a lung or eye infection.

The bacteria infects the cervix (neck of the womb), urethra (tube where the urine comes out), rectum (back passage) and sometimes even the eyes or throat.

You can’t catch chlamydia from hugging, kissing, swimming pools, toilets, sharing towels or sharing cups, plates or cutlery.

What symptoms could I have?

Half of people with penises will not have any obvious symptoms. If they do have symptoms, the most common are tingling or pain when passing urine or discharge (liquid) from the end of the penis.

70-80% of people with vaginas will not have any obvious symptoms. If they do have symptoms, there might be pain passing urine, pain during sex, tummy pain, bleeding between periods or an increase or change in vaginal discharge.

How do I test for it?

Chlamydia tests are carried out by taking swabs from the vagina, bum or throat or a urine test in people with penises. A urine sample can also be used. The sexual health clinic will recommend the best test for you depending on whether you have any symptoms, what they are and the type of sex you have.

It can take 2 weeks for Chlamydia to show positive on a test (window period) so if you do not have symptoms, you are advised to test 2 weeks after sex. However, if you think you have symptoms/signs of Chlamydia, you should test sooner.

You can find out more about self-testing and order a postal kit on our STI homepage here (click on ‘How and where to get a sexual health screen’) or you can use the Service Finer below to find chlamydia testing near you.

If you are aged 13 to 24, and have no symptoms, you can also get a Chlamydia test at a Well Wave point.

Service Finder

How do I treat it?

The sexual health clinic will most often give you one week of antibiotics (one tablet twice a day) called Doxycycline to treat Chlamydia. However, in some situations (like pregnancy/allergy) you will be given other antibiotics.

Click here to read about online Chlamydia treatment prescriptions through Leeds Sexual Health service.

See the below links for antibiotic information:

Doxycycline advice

Azithromycin advice

To schedule an appointment, please use the information on our Contact Us page.

Will this affect people I have sex with?

If you have tested positive for Chlamydia and you have a regular partner they will need to arrange a separate appointment for testing. They will also be offered testing / treatment at this time and you should not have sex until you have both finished treatment.