Chlamydia

Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacteria that is passed from one person to another through sex. It can cause problems if it's left untreated, so getting a test after unprotected sex is important.

What is it and how do I get it?

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is a bacteria passed from one person to another during sex including vaginal, oral and anal sex (if you don’t use a condom). You can’t catch chlamydia from kissing, swimming pools, toilets, sharing towels or sharing cups, plates or cutlery.

What might I notice?

Many people do not have any symptoms of chlamydia, so they don’t know they have it. If you have a penis, you may have tingling or pain when doing a wee or discharge (liquid) from the end of the penis. If you have a vagina, you may have pain when doing a wee, pain during sex, tummy pain, bleeding between periods or an increase or change in vaginal discharge.

Chlamydia won’t cause problems if it is found and treated early. But, if you don’t get tested or treated, it can cause pelvic or testicular infection and difficulty getting pregnant in the future. If you do get pregnant, it can cause problems in pregnancy.

How do I get a test?

After sex, it can take two weeks for chlamydia to show positive on a test so if you do not have symptoms, you should test two weeks after sex. If you have symptoms or signs of chlamydia, you should test sooner.

We test for chlamydia by taking swabs from the vagina, bum or throat or a urine test in people with penises. In many cases, you can take these swabs yourself. We will recommend the best test for you.

You can find out more about self-testing and order a postal kit on our STI homepage here (click on ‘How and where to get a sexual health screen’) or you can use the Service Finder below to find chlamydia testing near you.

If you are aged 13 to 24, and have no symptoms, you can also get a chlamydia test at a Well Wave point.

Service Finder

How do I get treatment?

If you have chlamydia you will be given tablets (antibiotics) to treat it. Read about online Chlamydia treatment prescriptions through Leeds Sexual Health service.

See the below links for antibiotic information:

Doxycycline advice

Azithromycin advice

To schedule an appointment, please use the information on our Contact Us page.

Should I tell the people I have sex with?

It is important to tell any people you have had sex with that you are being treated for chlamydia, so that they can have a test and treatment too. Your nurse or doctor will help you work out which partners to tell and can help you tell them (if you want help with this).

Do not have sex with any regular partners until they have been tested and until you both have finished treatment or you may get chlamydia again.