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What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a serious sexually transmitted infection (STI) and is most common in young people under 25 years of age. 1 in 12 people under 25 who have been tested are infected with chlamydia which is caused by a bacteria, that affects both men and women.
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection which can be invisible and you may not have any obvious signs or symptoms or only get mild symptoms which you don’t notice and therfore not know you have a sexually transmitted infection. If there are symptoms, they usually show up 1-3 weeks after coming into contact with chlamydia.
If left untreated chlamydia can cause longer term health problems including male and female infertility (not being able to have a baby).
Symptoms
For women symptoms can include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can make women feel very unwell, giving them severe lower abdominal pain (tummy ache) and bleeding between periods. This may cause infertility (not being able to get pregnant) or ectopic pregnancy ( a serious problem when the baby grows in the wrong place) or miscarriage. Chlamydia can also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy.
For men symtoms can include pain and swelling in your testicles (balls) which may also affect your fertility (you being able to get someone pregnant).
How do you get chlamydia?
You can be infected with chlamydia but show no signs or symptoms.
Chlamydia can be passed on through sexual contact and if left untreated there is a high risk that the infected person will pass it on to someone else. Chlamydia can not be passed on through kissing, by sharing towels, cutlery, cups and plates, or toilet seats.
Chlamydia infects the cells inside the cervix (the entrance to the womb), the rectum (anal passage) and the urethra (the urine tube). Once you’re infected, chlamydia can be passed on in semen or vaginal fluids.
The most common ways for people to get chlamydia is through vaginal or anal sex with an infected person without using a condom.
Chlamydia can also be spread through oral sex or through sharing sex toys without washing them.
If infected semen or vaginal fluids come into contact with the eyes, this can cause conjunctivitis (an infection of the eye).
Chlamydia can also be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy and childbirth. This may cause the newborn baby to have conjunctivitis and/or pneumonia.