Learn About Chlamydia
Chlamydia is an infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It is most often spread through sexual contact.
Both males and females may have chlamydia. However, they may not have any symptoms. As a result, you may become infected or pass the infection to your partner without knowing it.
You are more likely to become infected with chlamydia if you:
- Have sex without wearing a male or female condom
- Have more than one sexual partner
- Use drugs or alcohol and then have sex
- Have been infected with chlamydia before
In men, chlamydia may cause symptoms similar to gonorrhea. Symptoms may include:
- Burning feeling during urination
- Discharge from the penis or rectum
- Tenderness or pain in the testicles
- Rectal discharge or pain
Symptoms that may occur in women include:
- Burning feeling during urination
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Rectal pain or discharge
- Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes), or liver inflammation similar to hepatitis
- Vaginal discharge or bleeding after intercourse
The most common treatment for chlamydia is an antibiotic.
Both you and your sexual partners must be treated. This will ensure that you do not pass the infection back and forth. A person may become infected with chlamydia many times.
You and your partner are asked to abstain from sexual intercourse during the time of treatment.
A follow-up may be done in 4 weeks to see if the infection has been cured.
Office
Catherine O'connell is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Sarasota, Florida. Dr. O'connell is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chlamydia. Her top areas of expertise are Chlamydia, Cirrhosis, Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia, and Xanthoma.
Rebecca Guy practices in Kensington, Australia. Ms. Guy is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Chlamydia. Her top areas of expertise are Chlamydia, HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, Ileostomy, and Endoscopy.
UC Regents UCLA DMPG Century City
Jeffrey Klausner is an Infectious Disease provider in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Klausner is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chlamydia. His top areas of expertise are Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and HIV/AIDS.
Antibiotic treatment almost always works. You and your partner should take the medicines as directed.
If chlamydia spreads into your uterus and fallopian tubes, it can cause scarring. Scarring can make it harder for you to get pregnant.
You can help prevent infection with chlamydia by:
- Finishing your antibiotics when you are treated
- Making sure your sexual partners also take antibiotics
- Talking to your provider about being tested for chlamydia
- Going to see your provider if you have symptoms
- Wearing condoms and practicing safer sex
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of chlamydia.
Many people with chlamydia may not have symptoms. Therefore, many sexually active adults should be screened for the infection yearly. Check with your provider about what is best for you.
Summary: The objective of this research is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of doxycycline in MSM for preventing sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis) in Thailand Participation in this study will last approximately 12 weeks and will include 2-3 clinic visits, along with 10-11 follow-up phone contacts over a period of 11 weeks.
Summary: This study is a pharmacoepidemiologic method study based on the secondary use of pre-existing data that examines whether TriNetX, a global health research network encompassing a worldwide electronic health record (EHR), database in the US is an appropriate real-world data (RWD) source for conducting chlamydia-related research to support the chlamydia trachomatis (CT) messenger Ribonucleic acid (mR...
Published Date: April 16, 2024
Published By: John D. Jacobson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Getting tested for STIs. www.cdc.gov/sti/testing/. Updated April 9, 2024. Accessed July 24, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021. Chlamydial infections in adolescents and adults. www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/chlamydia.htm. Updated July 22, 2021. Accessed April 22, 2024.
Reno HEL, Geisler WM. Diseases caused by chlamydiae. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 294.
US Preventive Services Task Force; Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al. Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;326(10):949-956. PMID: 34519796 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34519796/.