How can chlamydia be prevented

Basic Fact Sheet Detailed Version. Basic fact sheets are presented in plain language for individuals with general questions about sexually transmitted diseases. The content here can be syndicated added to your web site. Print version pdf icon. Chlamydia is a common STD that can infect both men and women.

This can make it difficult or impossible for her to get pregnant later on. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy pregnancy that occurs outside the womb. This can happen if you have unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia. If you are pregnant, you can give chlamydia to your baby during childbirth.

If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting chlamydia:. Anyone who has sex can get chlamydia through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. However, sexually active young people are at a higher risk of getting chlamydia. This is due to behaviors and biological factors common among young people.

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are also at risk since chlamydia can spread through oral and anal sex. Have an honest and open talk with your health care provider. Ask whether you should be tested for chlamydia or other STDs. It can cause pelvic inflammatory disease PID. Possible complications from PID include:. Ectopic pregnancy tubal pregnancy.

This happens when a fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus. These pregnancies must be ended to save the mother's life. This often requires surgery.

For men having sex with men or women who have anal sex , chlamydia can cause an infection of the rectal area. Certain strains of chlamydia can cause lymphogranuloma venereum LGV. This health problem most often affects the rectal area. It causes bleeding, pain, or discharge, and can lead to abscesses and damage to tissue fistulas.

All people with chlamydia are also at greater risk of getting HIV if they are exposed to someone with the virus. If you are diagnosed with chlamydia, you can quickly cure the disease with treatment. But most people with it have mild symptoms or none at all. That is why many people don't know they have chlamydia. Chlamydia can now be easily tested for with a urine sample, vaginal swab, rectal swab, or throat swab. Many women now have chlamydia tests done on the same sample used to do a Pap test.

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. The most common treatment is either one dose of azithromycin or a 7-day course of doxycycline. STDs also called sexually transmitted infections or STIs are infections that spread through sex vaginal, oral, or anal.

Some STDs can spread through close contact with the genitals or body fluids. Many people with chlamydia have no symptoms. They can spread the infection to others without knowing it. A type of bacteria , Chlamydia trachomatis , causes chlamydia. Although chlamydia does not usually cause any symptoms and can normally be treated with a short course of antibiotics, it can be serious if it's not treated early on.

If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body and lead to long-term health problems, especially in women. In women, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease PID , ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

In men, in rare cases, chlamydia can spread to the testicles and epididymis tubes that carry sperm from the testicles , causing them to become painful and swollen. This is known as epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis inflammation of the testicles. It can also sometimes cause reactive arthritis in men and women. This is why it's important to get tested and treated as soon as possible if you think you might have chlamydia. Find out more about the complications of chlamydia.

Anyone can get a free and confidential chlamydia test at a sexual health clinic, a genitourinary medicine GUM clinic or a GP surgery.