Chlamydia Symptoms - Chlamydia Testing & Screening

What is it?

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium (a microscopic organism) that lives as a parasite inside human cells. Approximately 75% of women and 50% of men show no symptoms of the disease after infection. When left untreated, Chlamydia can permanently damage the sexual organs leading to infertility in women and in men. Chlamydia in women can infect the cervix and urinary tract and can cause pelvic inflammatory disease when it reaches the fallopian tubes. In men chlamydia can infect the urinary tract causing swelling or inflammation of the testicles. Gone untreated, Chlamydia can be very harmful so it is important to get tested regularly.

How can I get it?

You can get Chlamydia though sexual activity with someone who has it. Chlamydia can thrive in various regions of the body including the penis, vagina, anus, and throat so unprotected contact with any of these areas may lead to infection.

How do I know if I have it? 

Chlamydia shows no symptoms in over 50% of people who have it. Therefore, it is often difficult to tell whether you are infected. For those people who get symptoms, they may include:

  • Burning or painful sensation when urinating for men and women.
  • For women, discharge or a "mucus" coming out of the vagina, back pain, unusual pain during sex and bleeding between periods.
  • For men, a discharge or "mucus" coming out of the penis, inflamed or swollen testicles and/or discomfort around the tip of the penis.

CHLAMYDIA TESTING & Screening ~ Testing for Chlamydia

Testing for Chlamydia at Better2Know is easy, fast and painless. For men, we take a urine sample (no painful swabbing). For women, we either take a urine sample or a vaginal swab. The results are typically available within 3 days or less.

You can also now get a Home Testing Kit for Chlamydia, visit our Home STD Testing website for more details.

Treating CHLAMYDIA

Fortunately, Chlamydia is curable and can be easily treated with a course of antibiotics, for which you can receive a script at any the Better2Know clinics.

Adverse Consequences

Chlamydia is one of the most important preventable causes of infertility. Moreover, most women infected with Chlamydia have no symptoms. If left untreated, women may develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). In addition, Chlamydia in pregnant women can lead to increased risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery and potentially fatal tubal (ectopic) pregnancy. In men, Chlamydia may also reduce fertility. If the baby is exposed during delivery, he or she could suffer from eye infections or pneumonia.

Experts recommend annual Chlamydia screening for all sexually active females 25 and under and for women older than 25 with risk factors such as a new sex partner or multiple partners.