What is chlamydia? Common signs and symptoms

Every year in the United States, about 4 million people get chlamydia, a bacterial infection spread through sexual activity or from mother to baby. While anyone who engages in anal, oral or vaginal sex can get chlamydia, it is most common in people between the ages of 15 and 24.

Not everyone with an infection will have chlamydia symptoms, but this post will outline common symptoms as well as provide information about diagnosis and prevention.

In this article:

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and is caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. People can get chlamydia through having condomless sex or from touching the genitals of a person who is infected.

Vaginal sex, oral sex, and anal sex can all spread chlamydia, and same-sex partners can also become infected. Even if an infected person doesn’t show symptoms, they can still spread the infection to others, which is why it is sometimes called a “silent infection.”

Women are more likely to contract a chlamydia infection than men. Someone’s odds of contracting chlamydia increase when they have condomless sex.

Chlamydia may not have symptoms

About 7 out of 10 women with chlamydia will have no symptoms or mild symptoms. This means they might not even be aware they have chlamydia but can still infect someone else without realizing it.

If left untreated, chlamydia (whether someone has symptoms or not) poses health risks. Chlamydia can harm the reproductive system and cause infertility and pelvic pain. It can also increase someone’s chances of getting or passing on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Common symptoms of chlamydia

While most people who are infected with chlamydia don’t show any symptoms, some can have mild symptoms. Here are a few people should look out for:

• Women (people assigned female at birth):
  • A burning sensation when peeing
  • Bleeding without a period
  • A fever
  • Nausea
  • Pain during sex
  • Pain in the lower back or pelvic area
  • Unusual discharge from the vagina
• Men (people assigned male at birth):
  • A burning sensation when urinating
  • Discharge from the penis
  • Testicular pain and swelling (this is not as common)

Chlamydia can spread to the rectum, and if this happens, both men and women might have symptoms like discharge, pain, and bleeding from the rectum.

Chlamydia complications

If chlamydia isn’t found and treated right away, it can cause health issues, including those listed below.

Epididymitis

Epididymitis is when there’s swelling, known as inflammation, in the epididymis, the tube in the back of the testicle that contains sperm. Half of men under age 39 with epididymitis got it from chlamydia. There might be symptoms like fever, pain in the testicles and swelling.

Infertility

In women, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can cause harm to the reproductive system, which might result in infertility. Men can potentially experience infertility as a complication of chlamydia infection, but it’s not as common.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is when reproductive organs, such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus, become infected. Untreated chlamydia is a major cause of PID in 10 to 15 percent of women. PID can cause scar tissue on reproductive organs, which can lead to other health problems:

• Ectopic pregnancy, where a fertilized embryo grows outside of the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube, which is a medical emergency
• Pain in the pelvic area
• Problems getting pregnant or staying pregnant, known as infertility
• Tubo-ovarian abscess is a collection of pus that can leak or rupture, which is a serious medical complication

PID can be treated with antibiotics, but getting PID diagnosed as soon as possible can help avoid these complications.

Reactive arthritis

Reactive arthritis (formerly known as Reiter’s Syndrome) is a type of arthritis that may affect men who have an infection in the urethra caused by chlamydia. In rare instances, women can also get an infection in the urethra, which they might mistake for a bladder infection.

Around one percent of men who develop urethritis from chlamydia may also suffer from the reactive arthritis triad, which consists of three health conditions: urethritis, uveitis (eye inflammation) and arthritis (joint swelling).

Diagnosing chlamydia

People can find out if they have chlamydia by going to a health care provider and giving a urine sample. Another way a health care provider might test is by using a cotton swab to take a sample from the cervix, rectum, vagina or back of the throat (if someone has oral sex).

Over-the-counter (OTC) tests are also available, such as the Everlywell chlamydia and gonorrhea test, CVS Health® common STI test kit and Everlywell STD Test, Male kit.

Getting tested by a professional health care provider is recommended if someone suspects they might have chlamydia to confirm diagnosis and treatment.

If someone tests positive for a chlamydia infection, they should let any sexual partners know so they can be tested as well. It is possible to become reinfected with chlamydia, so it’s important to avoid having sex until the person with chlamydia and any sexual partners have been (successfully) treated. People diagnosed with chlamydia should talk with a health care provider about when it’s safe to resume having sex.

When to seek medical attention

If someone notices any symptoms, it’s important to get tested for chlamydia so they can begin treatment with antibiotics right away. If someone finds out a sexual partner has chlamydia, they should contact a health care provider and get tested, because symptoms can take a few weeks to show up, if they do at all.

Preventing chlamydia

Sexually active women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB) who are under age 25 should have yearly chlamydia testing. This includes those who are pregnant. Women and those AFAB over age 25 should be screened if they’re at higher risk for getting chlamydia.

There are a few reasons someone might be considered high risk:

• Don’t always use a condom
• Have a new sex partner
• Have multiple sex partners
• Have a partner with an STI or who has had a previous STI

At this time, there are no recommendations for men or those assigned male at birth (AMAB) who are at low risk to be screened routinely. However, young men can be considered for screening in certain settings. But men (and women) can help prevent a chlamydia infection by using condoms and only having sex with one partner at a time.

Chlamydia treatment

Chlamydia is a common STI that doesn’t always have symptoms and, if not treated right away, can cause serious health issues. Preventative measures like getting an STI screening and practicing safe sex can help prevent an infection. If someone is worried they might have chlamydia, a diagnosis can be done by a health care provider, at a CVS Health MinuteClinic^® location or at home. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics, but it’s still possible to get reinfected if someone has sex with a partner who has chlamydia.

Frequently asked questions

How long can chlamydia go undetected?

Chlamydia doesn’t always have symptoms. In fact, approximately 70 percent of women who have chlamydia don’t even know they have it or will show mild symptoms. But if it’s left untreated, it can cause health issues such as infertility and PID.

How did I get chlamydia without being sexually active?

Most of the time, chlamydia is spread through sexual contact, but someone can still get chlamydia if they touch the genitals of a person who is infected. People can also get chlamydia from anal, oral and vaginal sex.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.