Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis.

It is passed from person-to-person during oral, vaginal, or anal sex and can be transmitted by using or sharing contaminated sex toys. Chlamydia can also be transmitted from an infected person to a baby during childbirth.

People with chlamydia often have no symptoms and can unknowingly transmit it to others during sex. It may take from 2 to 6 weeks or much longer for symptoms to appear after exposure to the bacteria.

A person with a vagina may experience the following:

• new or different vaginal discharge
• irritation
• abnormal bleeding
• odour
• pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes with fever and chills
• pain during sex
• burning sensation when urinating

A person with a penis may experience the following:

• watery or milky discharge
• burning or itching at the end of the penis
• burning sensation when urinating

It is also possible for people to be infected with chlamydia in other sites such as the eyes, the throat or the rectum. While these infections often cause no symptoms, they can cause:

• red, itchy, watery eyes, or discharge from the eyes
• redness or soreness in the throat
• rectal discharge and/or bleeding
• rectal irritation, burning or pain

Complications may include:

• infertility
• Reiter’s syndrome (a type of arthritis)
• pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection in the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes
• tubal pregnancy
• chronic pelvic pain
• problems with the prostate and testicles

• urine sample and/or
• swab samples from the vagina or cervix, the penis, or from the throat or rectum

Testing and treatment of your recent sexual partner(s) is recommended whether they have symptoms or not.

• Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics.
• Abstain from oral, vaginal, or anal sex for 7 days after you and your partner(s) have been treated.
• Avoid alcohol and antacids while taking the antibiotics.
• Repeat testing may be requested by the health care provider or clinic.

For individuals using birth control, antibiotics may reduce its effectiveness. It is therefore recommended that a condom and a spermicide be used for the rest of the monthly cycle. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or if you think that you might be pregnant.

Aside from abstinence, the use of barriers like condoms, internal condoms, or dental dams every time you have vaginal, oral or anal sex can reduce the risks of spreading sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne infections (BBIs). Barriers may help prevent pregnancy and help protect you and your partners from bodily fluids and some skin-to-skin contact, which can both spread infections. If using sex toys, use condoms or wash them thoroughly between uses and between anal and vaginal sex.