Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that’s easily cured with antibiotic medicine.

It’s one of the most common STDs, and most people who have chlamydia don’t show any symptoms.

Chlamydia is really common.

Chlamydia is a SUPER common bacterial infection that you can get from sexual contact with another person. Close to 3 million Americans get it every year, most commonly among 14-24-year-olds.

Chlamydia is spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The infection is carried in semen (cum), pre-cum, and vaginal fluids. Chlamydia can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, eyes, and throat. Most people with chlamydia don’t have any symptoms and feel totally fine, so they might not even know they’re infected.

Chlamydia can be easily cleared up with antibiotics. But if you don’t treat chlamydia, it may lead to major health problems in the future.

That’s why STD testing is so important — the sooner you know you have chlamydia, the faster you can cure it.

You can prevent chlamydia by using condoms every time you have sex.

How do you get chlamydia?

Chlamydia is usually spread during sexual contact with someone who has the infection.

It can happen even if no one cums.

The main ways people get chlamydia are from having vaginal sex and anal sex, but it can also be spread through oral sex.

Rarely, you can get chlamydia by touching your eye if you have infected fluids on your hand.

Chlamydia can also be spread to a baby during birth if the mother has it.

Chlamydia isn’t spread through casual contact, so you CAN’T get chlamydia from sharing food or drinks, kissing, hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on the toilet.

Using condoms and/or dental dams every time you have sex is the best way to help prevent chlamydia.

Chlamydia Symptoms

People with chlamydia usually don’t have symptoms, so most people don’t know they have it.

If you do notice signs of chlamydia, get tested. Here’s what to look for.

Chlamydia usually has no symptoms.

Chlamydia can be sneaky, because you probably won’t have any symptoms you can see or feel.

Sometimes the signs of chlamydia are so mild that people don’t notice them, or they mistake the symptoms for something else.

Most of the time, people don’t even realize they have chlamydia — that’s part of the reason it’s such a common infection (and why it’s so important to get tested).

Chlamydia can lead to serious infections and even infertility if you don’t treat it.

But it’s usually easy to cure it with medicine if you catch it early.

This is why regular STD testing is so important, no matter how healthy you feel.

Signs of chlamydia

If you do have chlamydia symptoms, they can take several weeks after you got the infection to show up. Symptoms of chlamydia can appear in both men and women, including:

• pain or burning while peeing
• pain during sex
• lower belly pain
• abnormal vaginal discharge (may be yellowish and have a strong smell)
• bleeding between periods
• pus or a watery/milky discharge from the penis
• swollen or tender testicles
• pain, discharge and/or bleeding around the anus

If chlamydia infects your eyes, you may have redness, itching, or discharge. Sometimes chlamydia infections in the throat cause soreness, but it’s rare.

If you or your partner has any of these symptoms, go to a nurse, doctor, or your local Planned Parenthood Health Center.

It’s especially important to get checked out if you’re pregnant.

Remember, most people don’t show any signs at all when they have chlamydia. That’s why the only way to find out for sure if you have chlamydia is to get tested.

Should I get tested for chlamydia?

Getting tested is the only way to know if you have chlamydia. People who have sex should get tested regularly. Chlamydia tests are generally quick, painless, and sometimes free.

How do I know if I have chlamydia?

You can’t tell if you have chlamydia just by the way you feel. The only way to know for sure if you have chlamydia is to get tested — whether or not you have symptoms.

If you’re showing any signs of chlamydia, you should get tested.

Testing is also a good idea if you’ve had unprotected sex or if a partner has chlamydia (even if you don’t notice symptoms).

In general, people who are sexually active should get tested for STDs, including chlamydia, about once a year.

If you’re pregnant, get tested for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit.

Want to know if you should be tested for chlamydia? Check out this quiz to find out.

Chlamydia testing is pretty easy and painless.

The best part about getting tested for STDs?

Once you get it over with, it can really put your mind at ease.

And if you DO have chlamydia, it’s best to know right away so you can take medicine and get better as soon as possible.

What happens during a chlamydia test?

Chlamydia testing can be as simple as peeing in a cup.

Sometimes the test is done by gently rubbing your genitals with a cotton swab, to take cell samples from your urethra, vagina, cervix, or anus.

The samples are tested for chlamydia bacteria.

Your doctor may also be able to see chlamydia symptoms, like discharge on your cervix, during an exam.

Chlamydia can look like other common STDs like gonorrhea, so your nurse or doctor might test for a few infections.

The idea of getting tested may seem scary, but try not to freak out. STD testing is a regular part of being a responsible person and taking care of your health. The good news is chlamydia is totally curable with medication — so the sooner you know you have it, the faster you can get rid of it.

Where can I get tested for chlamydia?

You can get tested for chlamydia and other STDs at your doctor’s office, a community health clinic, the health department, or your local Planned Parenthood health center. In some states, you can do an online visit and take a chlamydia test at home.

STD testing isn’t always part of your regular checkup or gynecologist exam — you have to ask for it. Be open and honest with your nurse or doctor so they can help you figure out which tests you may need. Don’t be embarrassed: Your doctor is there to help, not to judge.

How do I get treated for chlamydia?

Chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotics.

Your sexual partners need to be treated too.

If you don’t treat chlamydia, it can lead to serious problems.

What’s the treatment for chlamydia?

Chlamydia is usually easy to get rid of. Your nurse or doctor will get you antibiotics to treat the infection. Sometimes you only have to take one dose of medication. Another chlamydia treatment lasts for 7 days. Your doctor will help you figure out which treatment is best for you.

If you’re treated for chlamydia, it’s really important for your sexual partners to get treated also. Otherwise, you can keep passing the infection back and forth, or to other people. Sometimes your doctor will give you medicine for both you and your partner.

What do I need to know if I get treated for chlamydia?

If you’re getting treated for chlamydia:

• Take all of your medicine the way your doctor tells you to, even if the symptoms go away sooner. The infection stays in your body until you finish the antibiotics.
• Your partner(s) should also get treated for chlamydia so you don’t re-infect each other or anyone else.
• Don’t have sex for 7 days. If you only have 1 dose of medication, wait for 7 days after you take it before having sex. If you’re taking medicine for 7 days, don’t have sex until you’ve finished all of your pills.
• Get tested again in 3-4 months to make sure your infection is gone.
• Don’t share your medicine with anyone. Your doctor may give you a separate dose of antibiotics for your partner. Make sure you both take all of the medicine you get.
• Even if you finish your treatment and the chlamydia is totally gone, it’s possible to get a new chlamydia infection again if you’re exposed in the future. Chlamydia isn’t a one-time-only deal. So use condoms and get tested regularly.

What happens if you don’t get treated for chlamydia?

Even though chlamydia is common and doesn’t always cause any symptoms, it can become a big deal if it’s not caught and treated early.

Chlamydia can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

PID might not have any symptoms at first, but there can be permanent damage that leads to pain, infertility, or ectopic pregnancy.

Getting tested for chlamydia really reduces your chances of getting PID.

If you have a penis, a chlamydia infection can spread to your epididymis(a tube that carries sperm from your testicles), and can cause chronic joint pain. Rarely, it can make you infertile.

Having chlamydia may increase your chances of getting or spreading HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

If you have chlamydia during your pregnancy and don’t treat it, you can pass it to your baby when you’re giving birth.

Chlamydia can cause eye infections and pneumonia in newborns, and it also increases the risk of delivering your baby too early. Testing and treatment for chlamydia is quick, easy, and the best way to avoid all these problems.