If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks of exposure. There are two kinds of laboratory tests to diagnose chlamydia. Another test that is becoming widely available can accurately detect chlamydia bacteria in a urine sample. Sexually active men and women can be exposed to chlamydia bacteria during sexual contact with an infected person. The more sex partners a person has, the greater the risk of chlamydia infection.
Babies are at risk of acquiring a chlamydial infection from their infected mother.
Sexually active teenagers and young women are especially susceptible to chlamydia bacteria because of the characteristics of the cells that form the lining of the cervical canal. Chlamydia can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics. All sex partners must also be treated. Untreated chlamydia in men typically causes urethral infection. In women, the chlamydia bacteria often infect the cells of the cervix.