Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK. It’s passed on via unprotected sexual activity.

You can get tested for chlamydia and other STIs at your local sexual health clinic or GP surgery. It will either be a urine or swab test depending on the area of the body to be tested.

You can prevent the spread of chlamydia by:

• Using condoms when having vaginal or anal sex
• Getting tested regularly, especially with new partners or after unprotected sex

Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It can be passed from person to person via most forms of sexual contact or contact with infected genital fluids. Depending on the sexual activity, the bacteria can infect the vagina, penis, throat, anus and in rare cases can also infect the eyes.

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics that target and kill the bacteria causing the infection. Our treatment is only available to those who have received a positive chlamydia test or those who have a recent sexual partner who has tested positive. This is because other STIs can cause similar symptoms to chlamydia but require completely different treatments.

If you and your sexual partner have not been tested for chlamydia, and are displaying any symptoms, you should visit your local Sexual Health Clinic or GP for a test as soon as possible.

About Doxycycline

Doxycycline is the current first-line treatment for chlamydia. The treatment involves taking one doxycycline capsule twice a day for 7 days. It should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.

It’s important to finish the full 7-day course even if your symptoms clear up early. This will help prevent the infection from coming back.

It’s important not to take supplements containing iron, magnesium or zinc at the same time as doxycycline, as they may interfere with the drug preventing it from being absorbed into the body.

Doxycycline can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. While taking doxycycline you should avoid exposure to sunlight or sunbeds and apply a high SPF (30+) to exposed skin.

Doxycycline is not safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Please visit your local Sexual Health Clinic or GP for an alternative.

Patient information leaflet:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.10218.pdf

Alternative Treatments

Chlamydia is always treated with antibiotics. You should discuss with a doctor what treatment is best for you. In rare situations, you may be recommended a different antibiotic that is more suitable. 

Side effects 

Doxycycline:

Common side effects (affects 1-10% of the population)

• Hypersensitivity reactions
• Headache
• Nausea/vomiting
• Photosensitivity reaction
• Rash

For a full list of side effects, please read the patient information leaflet.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.10218.pdf

Chlamydia in Women

If not treated in its early stages, Chlamydia can cause infertility in women. Chlamydia often has no symptoms, or very slight symptoms which can be difficult to detect. Seven in ten women do not notice symptoms.

If symptoms do appear, it is usually within three weeks of exposure. These can include:

• Excessive or abnormal vaginal discharge, usually milky or yellow coloured
• Burning sensation during urination
• Needing to urinate very regularly

Longer-term symptoms include:

• Bleeding or spotting between periods
• Unusually heavy periods
• Pain or bleeding during sex
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Nausea or fever
• Back or abdominal pain
• A heavy feeling around the hip

Chlamydia in Men

Chlamydia often has no symptoms in men, or very slight symptoms which can be difficult to detect. Between one quarter and one-half of all male chlamydia cases go unnoticed. This is part of the reason why the number of chlamydia cases in men has increased greatly over the last fifteen years.

In the short term, chlamydia symptoms for men will start to show usually within 1-3 weeks of the infection. Symptoms can include:

• Discharge from the end of the penis which can be white, cloudy or watery
• Painful, uncomfortable or burning sensation during urination
• Inflamed, tender or painful testicles

Chlamydia can also come in the form of a throat infection, conjunctivitis and as rectal pain, discharge or bleeding.