What Is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It spreads through vaginal, anal, and oral sex and often produces no symptoms at all, which is why routine testing matters. In the United States, chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STI, and young adults account for most cases. The good news is that chlamydia is easy to test for and fully curable with antibiotics when caught early. Untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women and epididymitis in men, both of which can affect fertility. This guide covers chlamydia symptoms, how it spreads, how testing works, treatment, and prevention, so you can make informed decisions about your sexual health.

Symptoms

Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, so you can carry the infection without knowing it. When symptoms do appear, they usually show up one to three weeks after exposure. Women may notice unusual vaginal discharge, burning when urinating, or pain in the lower belly. Men may see a discharge from the penis, burning during urination, or swelling in the testicles. Chlamydia can also infect the throat or rectum through oral and anal sex, which may cause a sore throat or rectal pain and discharge.

Because so many cases are silent, the only reliable way to know your status is to get tested. That is especially true if you have a new partner, multiple partners, or a partner who tested positive.

How It Spreads

Chlamydia spreads through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection. It can pass from a pregnant person to their baby during childbirth, which is why prenatal screening is routine. You cannot catch chlamydia from casual contact like hugging, sharing towels, or using a public toilet seat.

The bacteria live in semen, vaginal fluid, and rectal fluid. Condoms and dental dams greatly reduce the risk when used correctly and every time. If you test positive, your current and recent partners should be tested and treated too, because re-infection is common when partners are not treated together.

Testing

Chlamydia testing is simple. The most common method is a urine test, which you can do at a lab with a first-catch urine sample. Swab tests are also used, especially for rectal or throat infections, and some clinics offer self-collected vaginal swabs. The lab looks for the genetic material of Chlamydia trachomatis using a method called NAAT, which is highly accurate.

If you were exposed, wait at least one to two weeks before testing, because the bacteria need time to reach detectable levels. Testing too early can produce a false negative. Early detection matters because untreated chlamydia can damage the reproductive system over time, and treatment is quick and simple once you know your status.

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Treatment and Cure

Chlamydia is curable. A short course of antibiotics, usually a single dose of azithromycin or a week of doxycycline, clears the infection in nearly all cases. You should finish the full course even if symptoms disappear, and avoid sex until you and your partner have both completed treatment.

Untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which raises the risk of ectopic pregnancy and infertility. In men it can cause epididymitis, a painful condition that can also affect fertility. Retesting about three months after treatment is recommended to make sure the infection is gone, especially if you have a new partner.

Prevention

The most reliable way to prevent chlamydia is to use condoms correctly during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Regular screening is just as important, because most infections cause no symptoms. The CDC recommends yearly chlamydia testing for sexually active women under 25 and for anyone with new or multiple partners.

Talk openly with partners about testing and STI status before sex. If you test positive, tell recent partners so they can be treated, and wait to have sex until treatment is complete. Routine testing keeps you healthy and helps stop the infection from spreading in your community.