Chlamydia is an STI (sexually transmitted infection) caused by the bacterium, chlamydia trachomatis. In most cases, chlamydia does not cause any severe symptoms and can be treated easily with antibiotics. However, if not detected and managed early, it may spread to other parts of the body leading to long-term complications.
At Stigma Health, we provide convenient, judgement-free chlamydia testing Australia-wide. Get a chlamydia test today with an instant referral — no appointment required.
Chlamydia can be spread through sexual or non-sexual contact in the following ways:
However, it is important to note that chlamydia can not be spread by:
At Stigma Health, our hassle-free chlamydia tests are available Australia-wide, with fast referrals to over 10,000 pathology clinics. Get your test today.
When diagnosed with chlamydia, there may be a wide variety of symptoms. However, these symptoms can vary in severity from painful to virtually non-existent.
The symptoms may differ in men and women depending on the types of tissues affected.
Some of the common signs of chlamydia in women include:
Some of the common signs of chlamydia in men include:
A chlamydia infection can also affect the throat, anus, and eyes. In such cases, men and women may experience pain, abnormal discharge, bleeding from the anus, and redness of the eyes. Infection in the throat may not cause any noticeable symptoms in most cases.Worried you might have contracted chlamydia? Don’t wait — get your instant referral for a chlamydia test today.
It is important for sexually active men and women to get themselves tested for chlamydia, even if they do not have any symptoms. The tests for the diagnosis of chlamydia include the examination of a urine sample and a swab taken from the part of the body that might be infected such as the vagina, tip of the penis, anus, throat, and/or eyes.
Yes. Chlamydia can be treated with a course of antibiotics to be taken together in one day or over a period of one week.
Patients should avoid sex or any other form of intimate contact until the treatment is over or the infection is completely cleared.
It is possible to prevent chlamydia transmission by simply avoiding sexual or genital contact with an infected person.
Using protection during sex also offers an effective preventive strategy for avoiding this infection:
Sexually active men and women are advised to test themselves regularly for chlamydia, even if they do not have any symptoms — especially if they have multiple sexual partners.
Contraceptive pills and any form of contraception other than barrier methods (like condoms) do not provide protection against chlamydia.
When left untreated, chlamydia can cause moderate to serious complications and, in some cases, lead to serious health problems.
Women with chlamydia may develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that is characterised by pain in the lower abdomen and a higher risk of infertility. PID can be managed with antibiotics.
Chlamydia may also increase their risk of ectopic pregnancy, which refers to the pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus such as in the fallopian tubes. Ectopic pregnancy can have life-threatening consequences.
For men, long-term effects of chlamydia can include severe pain and swelling in the testicles, along with pain while urinating and during sex. In rare cases, it can cause infertility.
Poorly managed or untreated chlamydia is also known to cause reactive arthritis in men as well as women. Reactive arthritis is characterised by inflammation in the joints, urethra, and eyes.
Chlamydia can also increase your risk of getting other sexually transmitted infections such as HIV. Genital inflammation and sores caused due to chlamydia make it easier for the viruses responsible for HIV/AIDS to gain entry into your body.
Patients must be aware of these risks and take optimum precautions to protect themselves against chlamydia and other STIs.
Are you experiencing symptoms of chlamydia? Get your test today or contact our team for more information.
Chlamydia is the most common STI around today, but it’s also easily cured. The infection stems from a type of bacteria that can be passed along from person to person during vaginal, oral and anal sex.
The symptoms of chlamydia can be absent for months, but you can still pass on the infection.
When left untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious complications including infertility. It also makes you more susceptible to other STIs including HIV.
Some common symptoms include:
It’s simple and easy to get a chlamydia screening or test. Whether you’re exhibiting symptoms or not, all you have to do is pee in a cup and return your sample to a pathology clinic. From there, your urine is tested for the presence of the bacteria. Simple as that!
If you think you may have contracted chlamydia from oral or anal sex, our pathology referral will allow you to be checked for this as well. You will just need to ask the pathology centre staff for swabs to be taken of the infected area.
No. Chlamydia can be diagnosed with a simple urine test or swab test.
Treatment is simple and easy. All you have to do is take one dose of the antibiotic specified in your Stigma Health results. That’s it!
For a limited time, we can even provide the script for you without you needing to pay for an additional consultation. Your script will be automatically posted to you at the address you provide us when you order your pathology referral. Now that doesn’t sound too stressful, right?
However, you should refrain from any sexual activity for one week to let the infection fully resolve and get a repeat test after 3 months to make absolutely sure the infection is gone.
Yes. Like all sexually transmissible infections, we recommend notifying recent sexual partners if you are diagnosed with chlamydia. This can help stop the spread if your partners have been unknowingly diagnosed.
If you have recently had unprotected sex with a new sexual partner, we recommend getting an STI test.
It’s important that all sexually active people get tested for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV every 12 months. If you have multiple sex partners, it’s recommended to get a sexual health checkup every 3 months or with every new sex partner.
If you have received a negative test result but are still experiencing symptoms, we recommend seeing your health provider.
Yes, having chlamydia once does not stop you from getting infected and repeat infections are common. We recommend getting tested regularly and/or as soon as symptoms develop to ensure you are not infected.
Yes, some rapid chlamydia tests are available online. However, urine and swab tests can provide more accurate and reliable results.
