The symptoms of chlamydia can appear in both sexes one to five weeks after exposure. Men with chlamydia may experience painful urination and have a watery discharge from the penis. Women may notice burning and itching in the genital area and see a yellow-white vaginal discharge that is thick and odorless. Women also may have a dull pain in the lower abdominal area, bleeding between periods, or abnormally long and heavy periods. Chlamydial infections also can cause anorectal itching.
Chlamydia can remain in the body for long periods of time, especially in men.
Therefore, for couples diagnosed with the disease, it's difficult to determine who infected whom. It's vital that all sexual partners of an infected person are notified so they can be treated, preferably at the same time, in order to prevent reinfection. Antibiotics are usually used for treating chlamydia. During treatment, it is essential that the couple use latex condoms during sex and continued use of condoms is recommended for an additional three to six months after treatment. If left untreated, the infection may spread upward to the reproductive organs and cause sterility for both men and women.