Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics. This may be a single dose or a longer course.

It is very important that your current sexual partner is also tested and treated. Chlamydia is easily passed on through oral, vaginal or anal sex and it is most likely that he/she also has the infection.

Do not have sexual contact (not even using a condom) during your course of antibiotics or for seven days following treatment with a single dose of antibiotics.

This is to prevent your partner re-infecting you and to prevent you passing on the infection to anyone else.

Do not have sexual contact with your partner until he/she has also been treated.

Ex-partners may also need to be tested and treated and you may be asked to contact them – don’t worry, Team Chlamydia will help you.

Being treated for Chlamydia does NOT protect you from getting it again.

Remember, if you change your partner, using a condom when you have sex reduces the risk of getting Chlamydia in the future.

What if I don't get treated?

Complications of the infection will occur.

In men Chlamydia can spread to the testicles which will become hot, swollen and painful. This can reduce your ability to father children in the future.

In women Chlamydia can spread to the fallopian tubes causing pelvic infection. This will give you pain in the lower part of the abdomen and discomfort during intercourse. It can also lead to infertility (not able to become pregnant) in the future.

If untreated in pregnancy the infection can pass from mother to baby and cause eye infections and pneumonia in the newborn. Do tell the doctor or nurse if you think you are pregnant so that an antibiotic can be used that is suitable and safe in pregnancy.

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