chlamydia

T H E F A C T S 

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 IF YOU ARE A MAN

You can get chlamydia in the penis 

or rectum (if you have receptive 

anal sex). You may not notice any 

symptoms. But if you do have 

symptoms, you might notice:

• A discharge from your penis.

• Burning or itching around the 

opening of your penis when 

you urinate.

• Pain, bleeding, or discharge 

from your rectum if you have 

receptive anal sex.

You can get chlamydia in the 

vagina or rectum. 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.

• Pain, bleeding, or discharge 

from your rectum if you have 

anal sex.

If the infection spreads, you 

might get a fever or have pain 

during sex.

How can I fi nd out if I have chlamydia?

Ask a doctor to give you a test for chlamydia. 

The test is easy and painless.
When should I be tested? 

IF YOU ARE A WOMAN IF YOU ARE A MAN

You should be tested for chlamydia See a doctor if you notice a 

at least once a year if you are: discharge or feel a burning 

around your penis. • 25 or younger and you’re 

having sex.

• Older than 25 and you’re 

having sex with more than 

one partner.

• Older than 25 and you have 

a new sex partner.

• Pregnant.

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 you’ve both fi nished your treatment, so you 

don’t re-infect each other.
How is chlamydia treated?

• 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 three or four months after you fi nish 

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

your partner was also treated.

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.
What happens if I don’t get treated?

IF YOU ARE A WOMAN

• Chlamydia stays in your body if it is not treated. It can spread into 

the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic infl ammatory disease 

(PID), a serious infection of the reproductive organs. 

• PID may cause serious health problems if you become pregnant. PID 

can also cause damage that makes you unable to get pregnant.

• PID may 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 have untreated chlamydia, you have a higher chance of getting 

HIV if you have unprotected sex with an HIV-infected partner.

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.