Oral Chlamydia: Symptoms, Testing & Prevention

Can You Get Chlamydia in Your Mouth or Throat?

Yes, you can get chlamydia in your mouth and throat. While chlamydia is most commonly associated with genital infections, oral chlamydia (also called pharyngeal chlamydia) is a real and underdiagnosed condition that can be transmitted through unprotected oral sex.

Many people are surprised to learn that chlamydia can infect the throat. This is because oral chlamydia receives far less attention than genital infections, and most cases produce no noticeable symptoms at all – making it easy to overlook.

How Do You Get Oral Chlamydia?

Oral chlamydia is transmitted when the mouth or throat comes into contact with infected genital secretions. The most common transmission routes include:

Giving Oral Sex

Performing oral sex (fellatio or cunnilingus) on someone with a genital chlamydia infection
The bacteria can transfer from the genitals to your throat during this contact
This is the most common way oral chlamydia is acquired

Receiving Oral Sex

If your partner has oral chlamydia, they can potentially transmit it to your genitals
This route is considered less efficient but still possible

Oral-to-Oral Transmission

Deep kissing alone is not considered a significant risk for chlamydia transmission
The bacteria requires specific mucous membranes to establish infection

Can You Get Chlamydia from Kissing or Saliva?

This is one of the most common questions we receive. The reassuring answer is that chlamydia is not transmitted through casual contact, saliva, or kissing.

Chlamydia bacteria (Chlamydia trachomatis) require direct contact with mucous membranes and cannot survive well in saliva. You cannot catch oral chlamydia from:

Sharing drinks or food
Kissing (including deep kissing)
Coughing or sneezing
Sharing towels or toilet seats
Swimming pools or hot tubs

The infection requires sexual contact with an infected person's genitals, anus, or (less commonly) throat.

What Are the Symptoms of Oral Chlamydia?

Here's the challenging reality: most people with oral chlamydia experience no symptoms whatsoever. Studies suggest that over 90% of throat chlamydia infections are completely asymptomatic.

When symptoms do occur, they're often mild and easily mistaken for other conditions. Possible symptoms include:

Common Symptoms (When Present)

Sore throat that doesn't seem to go away
Mild throat discomfort or irritation
Redness in the throat
Slight difficulty swallowing

Less Common Symptoms

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Low-grade fever
White spots or coating on the tonsils (rare)

The Diagnostic Challenge

Because these symptoms overlap with common conditions like:

Viral sore throat
Tonsillitis
Post-nasal drip
Allergies

...oral chlamydia is frequently missed or dismissed as something else. If you've had a persistent sore throat after oral sex and it hasn't improved with standard treatments, STI testing should be considered.

Why Do Most Cases Go Unnoticed?

Several factors contribute to oral chlamydia being underdiagnosed:

1. Lack of Awareness

Many people – including some healthcare providers – don't routinely consider oral STIs. There's a common misconception that oral sex is "safe" and doesn't require testing.

2. No Routine Throat Screening

Unlike genital chlamydia testing, throat swabs aren't included in standard STI screenings unless specifically requested. This means infections can persist undetected.

3. Symptom Confusion

When symptoms do appear, they mimic common throat conditions, leading people to self-treat with lozenges or assume they'll resolve naturally.

4. Stigma and Embarrassment

Some individuals may feel uncomfortable disclosing their oral sexual activity, preventing appropriate testing.

How Is Oral Chlamydia Diagnosed?

Oral chlamydia is diagnosed through a simple throat swab test. This involves:

A healthcare provider gently swabbing the back of your throat and tonsil area
The sample is tested using nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT/PCR)
Results are typically available within 1-3 days

Important Testing Considerations

Timing matters: Like genital chlamydia, oral chlamydia has a window period. Testing too soon after exposure may produce a false negative. We recommend waiting at least 2 weeks after potential exposure for accurate results.

Request throat testing specifically: A standard urine or genital swab will not detect oral chlamydia. If you've had oral sex, you need a dedicated oral chlamydia test (throat swab).

Consider comprehensive testing: Since many people who have oral sex also engage in other sexual activities, a full STI screening covering all potential sites of infection (genital, rectal, and oral) is often recommended.

Can Oral Chlamydia Spread to Other Parts of the Body?

If left untreated, oral chlamydia can potentially:

Spread Through Sexual Contact

Oral chlamydia can be transmitted to a partner's genitals or rectum during oral sex
This creates a cycle of reinfection if both partners aren't treated

Rarely Cause Eye Infections

Touching your eyes after contact with infected secretions can cause chlamydial conjunctivitis
This is uncommon but possible

Co-exist with Other Infections

Having oral chlamydia may indicate exposure to other STIs. People with chlamydia are often advised to test for:

Gonorrhoea (frequently co-occurs with chlamydia)
HIV
Syphilis

A comprehensive STI panel can screen for multiple infections simultaneously.

What Are the Risks of Untreated Oral Chlamydia?

Unlike genital chlamydia, which can cause serious complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility, oral chlamydia itself is considered less likely to cause significant local damage.

However, untreated oral chlamydia poses several risks:

Ongoing Transmission

You can unknowingly pass the infection to sexual partners
This perpetuates the cycle of infection in your sexual network

Co-infection Concerns

Having any untreated STI increases your vulnerability to acquiring HIV
Chlamydia can make HIV transmission 3-5 times more likely

Psychological Impact

Anxiety about unknown STI status
Potential relationship complications if discovered later

Rare Complications

In exceptional cases, pharyngeal chlamydia may contribute to throat inflammation
Theoretically could affect respiratory health in immunocompromised individuals

How Is Oral Chlamydia Treated?

The good news is that oral chlamydia is easily curable with antibiotics. Treatment is the same as for genital chlamydia:

Standard Treatment

Doxycycline (100mg twice daily for 7 days) – the preferred first-line treatment
OR Azithromycin (single 1g dose) – an alternative option

Treatment Effectiveness

Throat infections may take slightly longer to clear than genital infections
Doxycycline is generally considered more effective for pharyngeal chlamydia
Cure rates are high (over 95%) with proper antibiotic adherence

During and After Treatment

Avoid all forms of sex for 7 days after completing treatment (or until a single-dose treatment has had time to work)
Sexual partners from the past 60 days should also be tested and treated
Retesting is recommended approximately 3 months after treatment to confirm clearance and check for reinfection

Should Your Partner Be Tested Too?

Absolutely. If you're diagnosed with oral chlamydia, anyone you've had sexual contact with – including oral sex – should be informed, tested, and treated if positive.

This prevents:

Reinfection (you treating your infection only to be reinfected by an untreated partner)
Onward transmission within your sexual network
Potential complications for partners who may have genital infections

Many clinics offer partner notification services that can help inform partners anonymously if preferred.

How Can You Prevent Oral Chlamydia?

While the only 100% effective method is abstinence from oral sex, there are practical steps to reduce your risk:

Use Barrier Protection

Condoms (external/male) during fellatio significantly reduce transmission
Dental dams during cunnilingus or rimming provide protection
While not commonly used, barriers are the most effective risk reduction method

Routine STI Testing

If you're sexually active with new or multiple partners, routine STI testing every 3-6 months is recommended
Include throat swabs if you engage in oral sex
Testing allows early detection and treatment before complications or transmission

Open Communication

Discuss STI status and testing with sexual partners
Consider mutual testing before unprotected sexual activity
Reduce stigma by normalising these conversations

Limit Number of Partners

Fewer sexual partners means lower cumulative risk
This is a personal choice that some find helpful for risk management

Know the Signs

Be aware of persistent sore throat after oral sex
Seek testing rather than assuming symptoms will resolve

When Should You Get Tested for Oral Chlamydia?

Consider chlamydia testing in London if:

You've Had Unprotected Oral Sex

With a new partner whose STI status is unknown
With someone who has since tested positive for chlamydia
With multiple partners

You Have Symptoms

Persistent sore throat that hasn't responded to usual remedies
Throat discomfort after recent oral sexual activity
Unusual discharge from the genitals or anus (may indicate infection at multiple sites)

Your Partner Has Been Diagnosed

If a sexual partner tests positive for chlamydia (any site), you should be tested and may need presumptive treatment

Routine Screening

As part of regular sexual health maintenance if you're sexually active
Before starting a new relationship where you plan to forego barriers

What to Expect at a Private Sexual Health Clinic

Getting tested for oral chlamydia at a private sexual health clinic is straightforward and confidential:

The Process

Consultation – Brief discussion about your sexual health and testing needs
Sample collection – Quick throat swab (takes seconds, causes minimal discomfort)
Additional tests – Depending on your history, urine/genital and rectal swabs may be recommended
Results – Typically available within 1-3 working days
Treatment – If positive, antibiotics can be prescribed immediately

Confidentiality

Your results are completely private
Testing doesn't go on your regular medical records unless you request it
A confidential STI clinic provides a judgement-free environment

The Bottom Line

Oral chlamydia is a real but often overlooked sexually transmitted infection. The key points to remember:

Yes, you can get chlamydia from oral sex – the throat can become infected
Most cases cause no symptoms – you can't tell by how you feel
It's not spread through kissing or saliva – transmission requires sexual contact
Testing requires a throat swab – standard STI tests won't detect it
Treatment is simple and effective – antibiotics cure the infection
Partners need testing too – to prevent reinfection

Don't let embarrassment prevent you from protecting your health. Oral sex is a normal part of many people's sex lives, and seeking appropriate testing is responsible and sensible.

Ready to Get Tested?

If you're concerned about oral chlamydia or simply want peace of mind, our private sexual health clinic offers discreet, comprehensive testing with rapid results. Book your confidential STI test today and take control of your sexual health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get chlamydia in your mouth from kissing?

No. Chlamydia is not transmitted through kissing or saliva. It requires sexual contact with infected genital or rectal areas. Deep kissing alone does not transmit chlamydia.

How common is oral chlamydia?

Oral chlamydia is less common than genital chlamydia but is likely underdiagnosed due to lack of routine throat screening. Studies suggest prevalence of 1-3% in sexually active populations who engage in oral sex.

Can oral chlamydia go away on its own?

While some infections may eventually clear without treatment, this is not guaranteed and can take a long time. During this period, you risk transmitting the infection to partners. Antibiotic treatment is always recommended.

How long can you have oral chlamydia without knowing?

Oral chlamydia can persist for months or even longer without causing symptoms. Since most cases are asymptomatic, regular testing is the only way to know your status if you're sexually active.

Is oral chlamydia the same as a strep throat?

No. Although symptoms can be similar (sore throat), strep throat is caused by Streptococcus bacteria, while oral chlamydia is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. They require different tests and treatments.

Can you test for oral chlamydia at home?

Some at-home STI testing kits now include throat swabs for oral chlamydia testing. However, for comprehensive evaluation and immediate treatment if positive, visiting a sexual health clinic is often more practical.

Can You Get Chlamydia from Oral Sex? Oral Chlamydia Symptoms, Testing & Prevention