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PROTECT YOURSELF + PROTECT YOUR PARTNER
PROTECT YOURSELF + PROTECT YOUR PARTNER

THE FACTS

•	 Chlamydia	(cla	MI	dee	a)	is	a	sexually	transmitted	disease	(STD).	

•	 Anyone	can	get	chlamydia.	It	is	very	common	among	teens	and	

young	adults.	

•	 Young,	sexually	active	females	need	testing	every	year.	

•	 Most	people	who	have	chlamydia	don’t	know	it.	Often	the	

disease	has	no	symptoms.	

•	 You	can	pass	chlamydia	to	others	without	knowing	it.	

•	 Chlamydia	is	easy	to	treat	and	cure.	

•	 If	you	do	not	treat	chlamydia,	it	can	lead	to	serious	health	

problems.
PROTECT YOURSELF + PROTECT YOUR PARTNER

HOW CAN I LOWER MY RISK FOR CHLAMYDIA?

•	 The	surest way	to	prevent	chlamydia	is	not	to	have	sex	or	

to	have	sex	only	with	someone	who’s	not	infected	and	who	

has	sex	only	with	you.	

•	 Condoms	can	reduce	your	risk	of	getting	chlamydia	if	used	

the	right	way	every	single	time	you	have	sex.	

•	 Washing	the	genitals,	urinating,	or	douching	after	sex	will	

not	prevent	any	STD.

How does someone get chlamydia?

•	 You	can	get	chlamydia	by	having	sex	with	

someone	who	has	it.	

•	 “Having	sex”	means	having	anal,	oral,	or		

vaginal	sex.	

•	 If	you	are	a	pregnant	woman	who	has	chlamydia,	

you	can	pass	the	infection	to	your	baby.
What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

IF YOU ARE A WOMAN 

The	majority	of	chlamydial	

infections	in	women	do	not	

cause	any	symptoms.	You	can	

get	chlamydia	in	the	cervix	

(opening	to	the	womb),	rectum,	

or	throat.	You	may	not	notice	any	

symptoms.	But	if	you	do	have	

symptoms,	you	might	notice:

•	 An	unusual	discharge	from	

your	vagina.

•	 Burning	when	you	urinate.

•	 Discomfort	or	bleeding	when	

you	have	sex.

If	the	infection	spreads,	you	

might	get	lower	abdominal	pain,	

pain	during	sex,	nausea,	or	fever.

IF YOU ARE A MAN

The	majority	of	chlamydial	

infections	in	men	do	not	cause	

any	symptoms.	You	can	get	

chlamydia	in	the	urethra	(inside	

the	penis),	rectum,	or	throat.	You	

may	not	notice	any	symptoms.	

But	if	you	do	have	symptoms,	you	

might	notice:

•	 A	discharge	from	your	penis.	

•	 Burning	when	you	urinate.	

•	 Burning	or	itching	around	the	

opening	of	your	penis.	

How can I find out if I have chlamydia?

Ask	a	doctor	to	give	you	a	test	for	chlamydia.	The	

test	is	easy	and	painless.
IF YOU ARE A WOMAN

You	should	be	tested	for	chlamydia	

at	least	once	a	year	if	you	are:

• Younger than 25	and

you’re having	sex.

• 25 and older and	you’re having	

sex	with	more	than	one

partner.

• 25 and older and	you	have	a

new	sex	partner.

• Pregnant.

When should I be tested? 

IF YOU ARE A MAN

See a doctor if your partner 

has chlamydia or symptoms 

that might be chlamydia. Gay, 

bisexual, and men who have 

sex with men should also be 

tested for chlamydia.

MEN AND WOMEN

See	a	doctor	if	your	partner	has	chlamydia	or	symptoms	that	might	be	

chlamydia.

If I have chlamydia, what does that mean for my partner?

• Your	partner	may	have	chlamydia,	too.

• Tell	your	recent	sex	partners,	so	they	can	get	tested	and	treated.

• Avoid	having	sex	until	seven	days	after	you’ve	both	started	your

treatment,	so	you	don’t	re-infect	each	other.
Can I get chlamydia again after I’ve been treated?

Yes,	you	can	get	chlamydia	again.	You	can	get	it	from	an	untreated	

partner	or	a	new	partner.

•	 Chlamydia	can	be	treated	and	cured	with	antibiotics.	

•	 Finish	all	of	the	medicine	to	be	sure	you	are	cured.	

•	 Do	not	share	your	medicine	with	anyone.	You	need	all	of	it.	

•	 If	you	still	have	symptoms	after	treatment,	go	back	to	see	the	doctor.	

•	 You	should	get	tested	again	about	three	months	after	you	finish	your	

treatment.	This	is	especially	important	if	you	are	not	sure	if	your	

partner	was	also	treated.	

How is chlamydia treated?
What happens if I don’t get treated?

IF YOU ARE A WOMAN

•	 If	untreated,	chlamydia	can	spread	into	the	uterus	or	fallopian	tubes	

and	cause	pelvic	inflammatory	disease	(PID),	a	serious	infection	of	

the	reproductive	organs.	

•	 PID	can	cause	damage	in	your	fallopian	tubes.	This	damage	may	

leave	you	unable	to	get	pregnant	or	lead	to	an	ectopic	pregnancy	

(pregnancy	outside	the	uterus).	

•	 PID	may	also	cause	chronic	pain	in	your	pelvic	area.	

•	 If	you	have	untreated	chlamydia,	you	could	pass	the	infection	to	

your	baby	when	giving	birth.	Chlamydia	can	cause	serious	health	

problems	for	babies.	

IF YOU ARE A MAN

Chlamydia	rarely	causes	long-term	health	problems	in	men.	You	may	

get	an	infection	in	the	tube	that	carries	sperm	from	the	testes.	This	

infection	can	cause	pain	and	fever.	In	rare	cases,	this	infection	may	

prevent	you	from	fathering	children.
A message for everyone 

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER.

Always	see	a	doctor	if	your	partner	is	being	treated	for	chlamydia.	You	

and	your	partner	need	to	be	treated.	Also,	see	the	doctor	if	you	or	your	

partner	notice	any	symptoms,	such	as	an	unusual	discharge.	Be	sure	to	

tell	your	recent	sex	partners,	so	they	can	get	tested,	too.	Talk	openly	and	

honestly	with	your	partner	about	chlamydia	and	other	STDs.

For more information

•		Talk	to	your	doctor.

•		Call	1-800-CDC-INFO.

•		Visit	www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia

CDC Publication No. 99-8824