How to Treat Chlamydia

Medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD

Last Updated: June 30, 2022 References

Experts say chlamydia often causes no symptoms at first, so you may not even realize you have it. Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, and you can contract it during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
MedlinePlus
Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine
Go to source} Research suggests that untreated chlamydia may increase your risk of contracting other infections, having an ectopic pregnancy, or becoming infertile.^{[2]
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Research source} Fortunately, chlamydia is a curable condition, so it's possible to make a full recovery with the right treatment.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting a Medical Diagnosis

1
Be aware of the symptoms and signs of chlamydia. Although chlamydia often presents few symptoms in its early stages, it’s important to be aware of any symptoms you may exhibit. Consult your doctor for a definitive diagnosis if you notice any signs of chlamydia, especially if you’ve engaged in unprotected sex.^{[3]
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Research source}
- Both men and women can contract chlamydia and repeat infection is common.^{[4]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- The early stage of a chlamydial infection often has little symptoms and even when signs are present, usually within 1 to 3 weeks after infection, they may be mild.^{[5]
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  National Health Service (UK)
  Public healthcare system of the UK
  Go to source}
- Common symptoms of chlamydia are: painful urination, lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge in women, discharge from the penis in men, painful sexual intercourse, bleeding between periods and after sex in women, or testicular pain in men.^{[6]
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2
Consult your doctor. If you experience any symptoms of chlamydia, including discharge from your genitals, or a partner has revealed they have chlamydia, make an appointment to see your doctor. She will run tests and confirm a diagnosis and develop the best treatment plan for you.^{[7]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Tell your doctor about the symptoms you're experiencing, signs of chlamydia that you've noticed, as well as if you’ve had unprotected sex.
- If you’ve had chlamydia in the past and are experiencing a recurrence, contact your doctor to get a prescription.^{[8]
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  Trustworthy Source
  National Health Service (UK)
  Public healthcare system of the UK
  Go to source}
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3
Undergo medical examinations. If your doctor suspects that you have chlamydia, she may order further medical examinations or tests. These simple screenings will help definitely diagnose the sexually transmitted disease and make it easier to develop a treatment plan.
- If you're a female, your doctor may swab the discharge from your cervix or vagina and submit the sample to a laboratory for testing.^{[9]
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  Trustworthy Source
  National Health Service (UK)
  Public healthcare system of the UK
  Go to source}
- If you're a male, your doctor may insert a slim swab into the opening of your penis and swab the discharge from your urethra. She will then submit the sample to a laboratory for testing.^{[10]
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  MedlinePlus
  Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine
  Go to source}
- If you've engaged in oral or anal sex, your doctor takes a swab of your mouth or anus for chlamydia testing.^{[11]
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  American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  Professional association of OB/GYNs focused on education and public outreat initiatives
  Go to source}
- In some cases, a urine sample may detect a chlamydia infection.^{[12]
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  MedlinePlus
  Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine
  Go to source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Treating Chlamydia

1
Get treatment for chlamydia. If your doctor diagnoses you with chlamydia, she’ll prescribe you a course of antibiotics, which is the only way to treat the disease besides prevention. Generally the infection will disappear after 1 or 2 weeks.^{[13]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source}
- The first line treatment is azithromycin (1 g taken orally in a single dose) or doxycycline (100 mg taken orally twice daily for 7 days).^{[14]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- Your treatment may be a one-time dose or you may need to take it daily or many times a day for 5-10 days.^{[15]
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  MedlinePlus
  Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine
  Go to source}
- Your sexual partner(s) also require treatment even if they have no symptoms of chlamydia. This will keep you and your partner(s) from passing the disease back and forth between one another.^{[16]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- Do not share your medication for chlamydia with anyone.^{[17]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
2
Screen and treat newborns. If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, your doctor may prescribe azithromycin in your second or third trimester to decrease the risk of transmitting the disease to your baby. Your chlamydia infection will be treated during pregnancy at the time of discovery you will be tested again to ensure the infection has resolved. After birth, your doctor will screen your newborn and treat her accordingly.^{[18]
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- If you give birth and transmit chlamydia to your newborn, your doctor will treat the disease with antibiotics to prevent pneumonia or a serious eye infection in your baby.^{[19]
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- Most doctors will prophylactically administer an erythromycin eye ointment to help prevent a chlamydia-related eye infection from affecting your newborn’s eyes.^{[20]
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  Research source}
- You and your doctor should monitor your newborn for chlamydia-related pneumonia for at least the first three months of her life.^{[21]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- If your baby has chlamydia-related pneumonia, your doctor will likely prescribe erythromycin or azithromycin.^{[22]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
3
Avoid all sexual activity. During the course of your chlamydia treatment, abstain from all sexual activity including oral and anal sex. This may help from spreading the disease to your partner and decrease your risk of reinfection.^{[23]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- If you take a single dose of medication, avoid sexual activity for seven days after you take the dose.^{[24]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- If you take a seven day course of medication, avoid sexual activity for the duration of your treatment.^{[25]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  National Health Service (UK)
  Public healthcare system of the UK
  Go to source}
4
See doctor if your symptoms persist after treatment. If your symptoms of chlamydia persist after a course of treatment, it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible. Managing and treating these symptoms and the disease will help ensure that you don’t have a recurrence or contract a more serious condition or complication.^{[26]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}
- Not addressing symptoms or recurrences can result in reproductive health complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, which can permanently damage reproductive organs, and ectopic pregnancy.^{[27]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Preventing Chlamydia and Recurrences

1
Get tested regularly for chlamydia. If a doctor treated you for an initial chlamydia infection, get retested for the disease in approximately three months and at regular intervals thereafter. This will help ensure that the disease has left your system and that you are no longer contagious.^{[28]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Continue testing for sexually transmitted infections with each new sexual partner.
- Recurrence of chlamydia is very common and is often treated with the same course of antibiotics. If infection recurs after a follow up test that showed no infection, this is a new infection.
2
Don’t use vaginal douching products. Avoid using douches if you have or have had chlamydia. These products kill good bacteria and raise the risk for infection or recurrence.^{[29]
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Research source}
3
Practice safe sex. The best way to treat chlamydia is to avoid getting it. Using condoms and limiting the number of your sex partners will minimize your risk for contracting the disease or having a recurrence.^{[30]
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- Always use condoms during sexual contact. Although condoms will not eliminate your risk of getting chlamydia, they will reduce your risk.
- Abstain from any sexual intercourse or sexual activity, including anal and oral sex, during treatment. Abstinence can help avoid reinfection or passing the STD to your partner.
- The more sexual partners you have, the higher your risk of getting chlamydia is. Try to limit the number of partners you have to decrease your risk, and always use condoms with your partners.^{[31]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
4
Be aware of the risk factors. Certain factors can increase your risk of getting chlamydia. Being aware of them can help you reduce the likelihood of contracting the disease.^{[32]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}
- If you are under 24 years of age you are at a higher risk for the disease.^{[33]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- If you’ve had multiple sex partners within the past year you are more likely to get chlamydia.^{[34]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- Inconsistent use of condoms can significantly increase your risk of getting chlamydia.^{[35]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- If you have a history of sexually transmitted diseases, including chlamydia, you are at an increased risk of contracting the disease.