The UK's Most Common Bacterial STI
Over 200,000 chlamydia cases are diagnosed in the UK each year. 70% of women and 50% of men have no symptoms. Silent infections can damage your fertility. Get tested.
Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK. Caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, it primarily affects the genital tract but can also infect the throat and rectum. The biggest concern with chlamydia is that most infections are asymptomatic, allowing the bacteria to cause silent damage to the reproductive system.
Chlamydia is diagnosed using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT/PCR), which are highly accurate. Testing involves a urine sample for men, or a vaginal swab for women (which can be self-collected). Throat and rectal swabs are taken if indicated by sexual history. Results are typically available within 2 days.
Chlamydia is easily cured with antibiotics. The standard treatment is either a single dose of azithromycin or a week-long course of doxycycline. Doxycycline is now preferred due to slightly higher cure rates. You should avoid sex for 7 days after treatment and until your partner has also been treated. A test of cure may be recommended in certain situations.
While some infections may eventually clear, you cannot rely on this. Untreated chlamydia can persist for months or years, causing ongoing damage to your reproductive system. Treatment is quick, easy, and essential.
You can have chlamydia for months or even years without any symptoms. This is why regular testing is so important. The longer an infection goes untreated, the greater the risk of complications like PID and infertility.
Yes. Treatment cures your current infection but doesn't provide immunity. You can be reinfected if exposed again. This is common if partners aren't treated simultaneously. About 1 in 5 people get reinfected within a few months.
Yes, it's important to notify recent sexual partners (ideally from the last 6 months) so they can get tested and treated. This prevents them passing it to others and reduces your risk of reinfection. We can help with anonymous partner notification.
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