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ChlamydiaPublished by Bupa's health information team, February 2008. This factsheet is for people who have chlamydia, or who would like information about it. Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK. The number of people with chlamydia is rising. It's most prevalent in sexually active men and women who are under 25. Chlamydia can easily be treated. However, if Chlamydia is left untreated, it can cause health and fertility problems.
About chlamydiaChlamydia is caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium which can infect the cervix (entrance to the womb), urethra (tube that passes urine from the bladder to the outside), rectum, the throat and, very rarely, the eyes. If you are sexually active you can get chlamydia but you are at greater risk of catching chlamydia if you have unprotected sex (sex without a condom) and have more than one sexual partner. Symptoms of chlamydiaAround 50 percent of men and 70 percent of women with chlamydia don't have any symptoms or have symptoms that are so mild they ignore them. You can pass chlamydia onto your sexual partner(s) even if you don't have any symptoms. If you do have symptoms of chlamydia, these usually start around one to three weeks after getting the infection. In women, symptoms of chlamydia include:
In men, symptoms include:
In both men and women, the rectum, throat and the eyes can become infected with the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium. Most men and women with chlamydia infection in the rectum don't have any symptoms. If you get symptoms, you may have a discharge from your anus, and may experience itchiness and discomfort. Chlamydia infection in the throat is unlikely to give you any symptoms. Chalmydia infection in the eyes is very rare in adults. It can cause irritation and a discharge (conjunctivitis) from one or both of your eyes. Complications of chlamydiaChlamydia can cause serious health and reproductive problems if it isn't treated. In women, the chlamydia infection can spread to the uterus (womb), ovaries and fallopian tubes (reproductive tubes leading to the ovaries) and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Between 10 and 30 percent of women with untreated chlamydia will get PID. PID can damage the fallopian tubes and can increase your risk of being infertile. It can increase your risk of having a miscarriage or of having an ectopic pregnancy - where the pregnancy starts to develop outside the womb, usually in the fallopian tubes (see Related topics). In men, chlamydia can cause the urethra (tube that passes urine from the bladder to the outside) or the prostate gland to become infected. It can also cause the tube which carries sperm (the epididymis) to become blocked and this can affect your fertility. Chlamydia can cause a form of inflammation in the joints known as reactive arthritis or (Reiter's syndrome). It's more common in men than in women. Causes of chlamydiaChlamydia is caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium. It can live inside the vagina, penis and rectum, and can be found in the semen of men and the vaginal fluids of women who have the infection. The infection can be passed on from one person to another during vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can also be passed on by sharing sex toys with an infected person. Diagnosis of chlamydiaYou can see your GP or visit a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic to be tested for chlamydia. STI clinics are completely confidential. You can have a test for chlamydia even if you don't have any symptoms. There are different ways of testing for chlamydia.
The National Chlamydia Screening Programme in England offers free tests to men and women under the age of 25. You will be asked to provide a urine sample. If you are female you can also take a swab from the entrance of your vagina. The tests are available at a range of locations, such as youth clubs, universities and GP surgeries. If the tests show that you have chlamydia, it's important that your current sexual partner and any sexual partners you have had in the last six months are tested for chlamydia too. Your doctor can give you advice on confidential ways to notify your sexual partner, if you would prefer to stay anonymous. Treatment of chlamydiaChlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. Your doctor will let you know how many days you need to take them for. You should always take the full course of antibiotics, even if the symptoms of chlamydia clear up before you finish the course. You should refrain from having vaginal, anal or oral sex until you and your partner have both finished treatment, or you could become re-infected. Although using condoms will reduce your risk of chlamydia infection, it won't completely protect you from becoming infected again. Antibiotics that treat chlamydia can interfere with some forms of oral contraception, making it less effective at preventing you from becoming pregnant. Tell your nurse or doctor if you are taking oral contraceptives and they will be able to give you advice. Special considerationsIf you are pregnantIf you have chlamydia when you are pregnant, it may lead to complications such as miscarriage or having your baby prematurely. You can also pass chlamydia onto your baby during birth, causing him or her to get conjunctivitis or pneumonia, both of which can be treated. If you are pregnant or are breastfeeding, you will be given a course of antibiotics to treat a chlamydia infection. It's important to tell your doctor or nurse that you are pregnant so that you are prescribed a suitable antibiotic. You will be given a type of antibiotic which is safe for your baby and is different to the antibiotic given to women who aren't pregnant. Prevention of chlamydiaThere are ways that you can lower your risk of getting or passing on chlamydia.
Further information
Sources
Related topicsThis information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. It has also been reviewed by Terrence Higgins Trust. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. Publication date: February 2008. Expected review date: February 2010.
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