Chlamydia Testing and Treatment

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK, and it’s often described as a “silent” infection because many people don’t realise they have it. It can affect the genitals, rectum, and throat, and without testing, it may go unnoticed for months or even years. The good news is that chlamydia is straightforward to diagnose and usually clears completely with the right antibiotic treatment.

Symptoms

Up to 50% of people with chlamydia have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are often mild and can come and go, which is why many people delay testing.

Possible symptoms include painful urination (dysuria), penile or vaginal discharge, lower abdominal or pelvic pain, bleeding during or after sex, bleeding between periods, and discomfort, itching, or tingling at the tip of the penis. Chlamydia can also infect other sites depending on exposure, causing rectal itching, pain or discharge, and occasionally a throat infection (which is usually symptom-free).

Because symptoms can be absent or non-specific, regular screening is important if you are sexually active, especially after a new partner or unprotected sex.

Possible Complications

If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to significant health problems, even when there are no symptoms at the time of infection.

In men, complications may include epididymo-orchitis (painful inflammation of the testicles) and sexually acquired reactive arthritis.

In women, untreated chlamydia can spread to the reproductive organs and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID increases the risk of infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that develops outside the womb). During pregnancy, untreated infection is associated with miscarriage, preterm birth, and stillbirth, and it can also be passed to a baby during delivery, potentially causing eye infections or chest infections.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment greatly reduce these risks.

Testing

Testing is simple, discreet, and highly accurate.

Women are usually tested using swabs from the vagina or cervix, and swabs can also be taken from the rectum or throat, depending on exposure. Men are often tested using a urine sample, although swabs may be needed if there has been rectal or oral exposure.

Tests are generally very accurate from around two weeks after potential exposure. If you develop symptoms sooner than this, you should still seek medical advice — you may need testing earlier and repeat testing later for confirmation.

Treatment

Chlamydia is effectively treated with a course of antibiotics, which we can provide on-site, so there is no need to visit a pharmacy separately.

To prevent reinfection, sexual partners should also be tested and treated, even if they feel well. You should avoid sexual contact until treatment is complete — typically 7 days after finishing antibiotics (or as advised), and until partners have been treated too.

Protecting Your Health

Because chlamydia is often symptom-free, screening and early treatment are the best ways to protect your fertility and long-term sexual health. If you’ve had a new partner, unprotected sex, or you’re concerned about symptoms or possible exposure, prompt testing offers reassurance and helps protect both you and your partners.