Sexual Health Advice - Patient Information Leaflets
Chlamydia
What is Chlamydia infection?
Chlamydia is the most commonly sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK. It is an infection caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. The bacteria can live inside the cells of the cervix (neck of the womb), the urethra (tube where urine comes out), the rectum (back passage) and sometimes the throat and eyes. Often there are no symptoms, or they may be so mild you do not know you have it. You can be infected with Chlamydia for months, even years, without realising it. You can also easily pass it on to others without realising.
How common is Chlamydia?
About 1 in 20 sexually active women in the UK are infected with Chlamydia. It is most common in women under 25. (About 1 in 12 women aged 20 are infected with Chlamydia). The number of cases has risen sharply in recent years.
How is Chlamydia passed on?
• Chlamydia can be passed from one person to another during vaginal, anal or oral sex or sharing sex toys.
• It is also possible to transfer the infection from the genital area to the eyes and for a pregnant women to pass the infection to her baby.
• It is not known whether it is possible to spread the infection by transferring semen or vaginal fluid to another person’s genitals on the fingers or through rubbing vulvas together.
• You cannot catch Chlamydia from kissing, hugging, sharing cups, plates or cutlery, sharing baths or towels, from swimming pools or toilet seats.
How can I protect myself from Chlamydia?
• Using condoms (male and female) every time you have anal or vaginal sex.
• For oral sex, cover the penis with a condom or the female genitals with a latex square (dental dam).
• Avoid sharing sex toys. If they are shared wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.
What happens if Chlamydia is not treated?
• Without proper treatment Chlamydia infection can spread to other parts of the body causing serious long-term complications. This can occur months or even years after you are first infected.
• In women Chlamydia can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This may develop suddenly and cause fever and pain. It can also develop slowly over months or years without causing symptoms (silent pelvic inflammatory disease), resulting in damage and scarring to the fallopian tubes. This in turn can lead to long-term pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy occurring outside the womb).
• Rarely infection can spread to the liver causing pain and inflammation
• Untreated Chlamydia infection during childbirth may result in your baby developing Chlamydia infection of their eye or lungs during birth.
• In men Chlamydia can spread to the testicles causing pain and possibly reduced fertility. It may also spread to the prostate causing inflammation and pain.
• Inflammation of the joints (reactive arthritis), eye and urethra can occur. This is known as Reiter’s syndrome. This is rare but more common in men than women.
Can Chlamydia go away without treatment?
It is very unlikely. If you delay seeking treatment you risk the infection causing long term damage and you may pass on the infection to someone else.
How will I know how long I have had Chlamydia?
It can be difficult to know, particularly as most people do not get any symptoms, or symptoms appear a long time after you have been exposed to Chlamydia. You may never find out who you got Chlamydia from, whether it be your current or a previous sexual partner. These doubts can be difficult to handle. Some people feel upset or angry and find it difficult to talk to their partner/friends. Do not be afraid to talk to the staff about how you are feeling.
What are the common symptoms of Chlamydia?
No problems occur in up to 8 in 10 cases of infected men and women.
Symptoms can show up 1 – 3 weeks after coming into contact with Chlamydia, many months later or not until the infection spreads to other parts of the body.
Common symptoms include:
Women:
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Pain or burning when passing urine
• Bleeding or spotting between periods
• Bleeding after sex
• Pain and/or bleeding during sex
• Lower abdominal pain
Men:
• White/cloudy and watery discharge from the tip of the penis
• Pain or burning when passing urine
• Irritation inside the penis
• A feeling of wanting to pass urine frequently
• Painful swelling of one or both testes
Both women and men:
Infection in rectum – discomfort in rectum or discharge from rectum
Infection in eyes – pain, swelling, irritation, discharge (conjunctivitis)
If I do not get symptoms, how will I know if I have Chlamydia?
• You won’t know unless you have a Chlamydia test.
• You may be at risk of Chlamydia infection and consider having a test if:
• You have had unprotected sex with a new partner recently
• You or your partner has had unprotected sex with other partners
• A sexual partner tells you they have an sexually transmitted infection
• You are found to have another sexually transmitted infection
How is Chlamydia diagnosed?
Chlamydia can be confirmed by a ‘swab' taken from the cervix, urethra, rectum, throat and eye. A swab is a small ball of cotton wool on the end of a stick which is used to collect mucus and cells to send to the laboratory for testing. There are newer tests using a urine sample or a swab from the lower vagina. You may also be advised to be tested for other sexually transmitted infections.
Chlamydia will show up on the tests a few days after you have been in contact with it, often before you have any symptoms.
What is the treatment for Chlamydia?
A short course of antibiotics usually clears Chlamydia infection. These are taken as a single dose or longer course. Tell your doctor if you are (or may be) pregnant. This may affect the choice of antibiotics. Avoid vaginal, anal and oral sex until you and your sexual partner have finished treatment (or for seven days after treatment with a ‘single dose' antibiotic), otherwise you could be re-infected.
Does my partner need to be treated for Chlamydia?
Yes. Also any other sexual partners within the past six months should also be tested for infection. If you have not had sex within the last six months then your latest sexual partner should be tested and treated, however long ago the relationship was. A course of antibiotics is usually advised whether or not infection is found on testing.
This is because:
• Chlamydia infection is commonly passed on during sex.
• Men and women often have no symptoms with Chlamydia, but can still pass on the infection.
• The test for Chlamydia is not always 100% reliable. Treatment makes sure that any possible infection which may have been missed by the tests is cleared.
• If you sexual partner is infected and not treated, Chlamydia can be passed back to you again after you are treated.
• It is strongly advised to tell your partner(s) but this is not compulsory. If you feel that it would be difficult to tell your partner(s), the clinic can give you a ‘contact slip’ to send to them, or with your permission, the clinic can do this for you. The slip explains to the person that they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection and suggest they go for a check up. It does not say what the infection is, or have your name on it, so confidentiality is protected. This is called partner notification.
