Causes
Bacteria from an infected sex partner causes the infection. This can happen during oral, genital, or anal sex.
Risk Factors
The infection is most common in people under 24 years old. Other things that may raise the risk are:
- Being sexually active
- Prior STIs
- Having a new sex partner
- Having more than 1 sex partner
- Having a partner with an STI
- Having sex without a condom
Symptoms
Most people do not have symptoms.
In men, symptoms may include:
- Pain when passing urine
- Pus exiting the penis
- Scrotal pain or swelling
In women, symptoms may include:
- A change in vaginal discharge
- Pain or bleeding during sex or between periods
- Belly pain
- Vaginal redness or pain
- Pain when passing urine
| Male Genitourinary System |
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| Female Reproductive System Organs |
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Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done. Tests for cause of infection may be done with:
- A swab of the penis, cervix, throat, or rectum
- Urine tests
Treatment
Antibiotics are used to treat the infection. Sexual partners should also be treated or the infection will continue to recur.
Prevention
The risk of this problem may be lowered by:
- Abstaining from oral, anal, or genital sex.
- Limiting sex to 1 partner
- Using latex condoms during sex
RESOURCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov
Office on Women's Health—US Department of Health and Human Services http://www.womenshealth.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Health Canada https://www.canada.ca
The Sex Information & Education Council of Canada http://sieccan.org
References
Chlamydia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/default.htm. Accessed October 16, 2020.
Chlamydia fact sheet. Office on Women's Health—US Department of Health and Human Services website. Available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/chlamydia.html. Accessed October 16, 2020.
Chlamydia genital infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chlamydia-genital-infection. Accessed October 16, 2020.
Workowski KA, Bolan GA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2015. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2015 Jun 5;64(RR-03):1-137.
2015 Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/default.htm. Accessed October 16, 2020.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Elliot M. Levine, MD, FACOG
- Review Date: 09/2020
- Update Date: 04/27/2021