Chlamydia

Chlamydia video.

Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK and is easily passed on during vaginal, anal and even oral sex. Chlamydia affects both men and women but as most people don’t experience any symptoms, they often don’t know they have the infection.

In women, chlamydia can cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, a vaginal discharge, pain in the lower abdomen during or after sex, and bleeding during or after sex or between periods. It can also cause heavy periods.

In men, chlamydia can cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, a white, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the penis, and pain or tenderness in the testicles.

As well as the genitals it is also possible to have a chlamydia infection in your rectum (bottom), throat or eyes. There is no evidence to show that chlamydia can be passed on from toilet seats, sharing towels or cups. An infected mother can pass it on to her baby’s eyes and lungs at birth. It can also be spread from the genitals to the eyes with your or your partner’s fingers. Using a condom will greatly reduce your chances of becoming infected with chlamydia.

Chlamydia can be diagnosed with a urine test for men and a self-taken swab of the affected area for women. As it is a bacterial infection, it is easily treated with a course of antibiotics, however, treatment does not offer future immunity so after treatment it is possible to get chlamydia again if you continue to have unprotected sex. If you do have chlamydia, it is important that you:

• remember that your partner will also need to be tested and will require treatment too, otherwise, your partner can infect you again
• avoid having sex until you and your partner complete treatment
• before taking the treatment for chlamydia, it is a good idea to tell the doctor or nurse if you are taking any form of contraception or if you are pregnant

If chlamydia is left untreated, it will not go away on its own and can lead to serious long-term health problems, including possible infertility. If you would like to make an appointment at any one of our clinics, please call 0300 303 0251 (Line open Mon – Thurs: 8am–4:45pm and Fri: 8am–3:45pm).

A list of all clinic times and venues is on the Services page of this website.