TribElle · Sexual health

Chlamydia: symptoms, treatment and what it means for your fertility

Think chlamydia is only something that affects younger people? Think again.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK. It can affect anyone sexually active, regardless of age or relationship status.

In England, there were 151,163 chlamydia diagnoses in 2025, making chlamydia the most commonly diagnosed STI and accounting for 45.2% of all new STI diagnoses that year (GOV.UK).

Although diagnosis rates are highest among younger people, chlamydia does not stop being relevant as you get older. In 2024, 9,618 diagnoses were recorded among people aged 45–64, with a further 758 diagnoses among people aged 65 and over (GOV.UK).

So whether you're 20, 40, 50 or 60, if you've had a new sexual partner or think you may have been exposed to chlamydia, testing is worth considering.

At TribElle, we believe sexual healthcare should be straightforward, confidential and free from judgement. Our clinical team can assess people who are concerned they may have chlamydia and, where clinically appropriate, prescribe treatment through our online pharmacy.

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.

It can infect the:

One of the reasons chlamydia can spread so easily is that many people have no symptoms.

You can therefore have chlamydia without knowing you have it and pass it to a sexual partner.

Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics, but leaving it untreated can increase the risk of complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility and ectopic pregnancy (NHS).

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

Many people with chlamydia have no symptoms.

When symptoms do occur, they can include:

Chlamydia can also infect the throat and may cause a sore throat, although throat infections are often symptomless.

Because symptoms aren't always present, you cannot reliably tell whether you have chlamydia based on how you feel. Testing is important if you think you may have been exposed.

Can you have chlamydia without symptoms?

Yes. In fact, many people with chlamydia have no noticeable symptoms.

This is one of the reasons regular STI testing is so important, particularly after a new sexual partner or if a partner tells you they have tested positive.

How is chlamydia spread?

Chlamydia can be passed through sexual contact involving infected vaginal fluid or semen.

It can be transmitted through:

• Vaginal sex without a condom
• Anal sex without a condom
• Oral sex
• Sharing sex toys without cleaning them or using a new condom
• Contact with infected sexual fluids

Chlamydia can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby during childbirth (NHS).

You don't need to have penetrative sex to potentially acquire an STI, which is why sexual health testing should be based on your individual circumstances rather than assumptions about risk.

Can you get chlamydia from a toilet seat?

No. Chlamydia is not normally spread through toilet seats, swimming pools, towels or casual everyday contact.

It is primarily transmitted through sexual contact with infected genital fluids.

Can you get chlamydia from oral sex?

Yes. Chlamydia can be transmitted through oral sex.

Depending on the sexual contact, chlamydia can infect the throat, genitals or rectum. If you've had oral, anal and vaginal sexual contact, tell your healthcare professional because you may need testing at more than one site.

Does chlamydia affect fertility?

Yes, untreated chlamydia can affect fertility in both women and men.

This is one of the most important reasons to get tested and treated promptly.

In women, untreated chlamydia can travel from the cervix into the upper reproductive organs and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause inflammation and scarring of the fallopian tubes.

If the fallopian tubes become damaged or blocked, this can make it more difficult to become pregnant and can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. The NHS specifically recognises chlamydia as an infection that can affect fertility (NHS).

In men, chlamydia can cause infection and inflammation in the reproductive tract and may also affect fertility.

Can chlamydia cause pelvic inflammatory disease?

Yes. Chlamydia is one of the infections that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

PID occurs when infection spreads upwards from the cervix into the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries.

Symptoms can include:

How do you test for chlamydia?

Chlamydia is usually diagnosed using a urine sample or a swab.

Depending on your sexual history and symptoms, testing may involve samples from the vagina, cervix, penis, rectum or throat.

Home testing and self-sampling can make STI testing more convenient and discreet. TribElle also partners with Trusti, which provides at-home STI testing.

If you receive a positive result, the next step is appropriate clinical assessment.

What should I do if my chlamydia test is positive?

First, don't panic. Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics.

If you receive a positive result:

At TribElle, eligible patients can complete an online clinical assessment. Our clinical team can review your medical information and test result and determine whether treatment is appropriate.

Where treatment is clinically appropriate, TribElle can prescribe, dispense and discreetly deliver your medication directly to you.

What treatment is available for chlamydia?

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics.

The current BASHH 2026 guideline recommends doxycycline 100mg twice daily for seven days as the preferred treatment for uncomplicated genital and rectal chlamydia. Different treatment may be appropriate in certain circumstances, including pregnancy or if doxycycline is unsuitable (BASHH).

The correct treatment depends on factors such as:

This is why chlamydia treatment should follow an appropriate clinical assessment rather than simply choosing an antibiotic yourself.

Can I get chlamydia treatment online?

In some circumstances, yes.

TribElle provides online clinical assessment for eligible patients. A qualified clinician reviews the information provided before deciding whether treatment is clinically appropriate.

If prescribed, TribElle's online pharmacy can dispense and deliver the medication discreetly.

This can make the journey from positive test to clinical assessment to treatment simpler and more convenient.

How quickly can I get chlamydia treatment?

If you've received a positive test result, getting appropriate treatment promptly is important.

With TribElle, eligible patients can complete an online clinical assessment without necessarily needing to attend a pharmacy or GP surgery in person. If treatment is clinically appropriate, medication can be prescribed and dispensed by the TribElle pharmacy.

The aim is to make the journey from diagnosis to treatment as simple and convenient as possible.

How soon after chlamydia treatment can I have sex?

This is an important one.

You should avoid vaginal, anal and oral sex until you and your sexual partner(s) have completed treatment and the recommended period of abstinence has passed.

For the commonly used seven-day doxycycline course, this means completing the full course and following your clinician's specific advice before having sex.

The key reason is to avoid passing chlamydia back and forth between partners.

NHS sexual health guidance advises avoiding sexual activity until treatment has been completed and the relevant waiting period has passed (iCaSH NHS).

If your partner has not been treated, you can become reinfected even after successfully completing your own treatment.

Can I get chlamydia again after treatment?

Yes.

Treatment clears the infection you currently have, but it does not make you immune to future chlamydia infections.

You can get chlamydia again if you have sexual contact with someone who has an untreated infection.

This is why treating sexual partners and following advice about when it is safe to resume sexual activity are so important.

Do I need to tell my partner if I have chlamydia?

Yes.

Recent sexual partners should be informed so they can access testing and treatment if necessary.

Partner notification helps prevent the infection being passed back to you and helps reduce the wider spread of chlamydia.

If you're worried about having that conversation, sexual health services can often help with confidential partner notification.

Can chlamydia come back without having sex again?

Usually, a positive test after treatment is more likely to be related to reinfection or treatment issues than the infection simply "coming back".

Possible reasons include:

• A sexual partner wasn't treated
• Sex occurred before treatment was completed
• Treatment wasn't taken exactly as prescribed
• A new sexual partner has the infection

If you test positive again, speak to a healthcare professional rather than assuming you need to repeat the same treatment.

Can I have chlamydia for years without knowing?

Yes. Chlamydia can be present without obvious symptoms.

Some people only discover they have chlamydia when they have an STI test, experience fertility problems or are tested because a partner has been diagnosed.

This is particularly important for people in midlife. Being in your 40s, 50s or beyond doesn't remove the possibility of having an STI.

The 2024 England data recorded 9,618 chlamydia diagnoses in people aged 45–64 and 758 among those aged 65+ (GOV.UK).

Is chlamydia common in your 40s and 50s?

Yes. Chlamydia is less common in older age groups than among younger adults, but it absolutely occurs in midlife and later life.

In England, almost 10,000 chlamydia diagnoses were recorded among 45–64-year-olds in 2024 (GOV.UK).

This is an important reminder that sexual health shouldn't disappear from the conversation as women get older.

New relationships, separation, divorce, dating later in life and changes in contraception can all mean that STI prevention and testing remain relevant throughout adulthood.

Can chlamydia affect you during perimenopause or menopause?

Yes. Being perimenopausal or postmenopausal does not protect you from STIs.

In fact, changes in relationships, dating and sexual activity can mean that STI awareness remains important during midlife.

Some symptoms of menopause, such as vaginal dryness, discomfort during sex or changes in vaginal discharge, can also overlap with symptoms of other genital conditions.

If you're experiencing new or unusual symptoms, don't assume they're automatically caused by menopause. An appropriate clinical assessment can help establish the cause.

Can chlamydia affect pregnancy?

Yes.

Untreated chlamydia during pregnancy can be passed to a baby during childbirth and can cause complications such as conjunctivitis or pneumonia in the newborn (NHS).

If you're pregnant or think you may be pregnant and are concerned about chlamydia, speak to a healthcare professional. Treatment choices can differ during pregnancy.

Should I be tested for other STIs if I have chlamydia?

Often, yes.

Having one STI can mean there has been an opportunity for exposure to others.

Depending on your circumstances, a clinician may recommend testing for infections such as:

Your clinician can advise which tests are appropriate based on your sexual history, symptoms and potential exposure.

What makes TribElle different when it comes to chlamydia treatment?

At TribElle, we don't see sexual health as simply a prescription transaction.

We're building a women's health platform focused on expert clinical care across every stage of life.

When you're worried about an STI, you may be anxious, embarrassed or simply want an answer quickly. Our aim is to make that experience easier.

With TribElle, eligible patients can:

For us, this is what modern healthcare should look like: expert, accessible, convenient and completely stigma-free.

Chlamydia FAQs

How do I know if I have chlamydia?

You cannot reliably tell from symptoms because many people with chlamydia have no symptoms. Testing is the best way to find out.

How long does chlamydia take to show symptoms?

Some people develop symptoms after infection, while others remain completely symptom-free. This means the absence of symptoms doesn't rule out chlamydia.

Can chlamydia be cured?

Yes. Chlamydia can usually be cured with appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Can chlamydia cause infertility?

Untreated chlamydia can cause complications such as PID that may affect fertility. Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the risk of long-term complications.

Can you get chlamydia from oral sex?

Yes. Chlamydia can be transmitted through oral sex and can infect the throat.

Can you get chlamydia from kissing?

Kissing is not considered a typical route of genital chlamydia transmission.

Can men get chlamydia?

Yes. Chlamydia can infect anyone sexually active, regardless of sex or age.

Can I get chlamydia if I'm in a long-term relationship?

Yes. A person can have an asymptomatic infection, so a positive result doesn't necessarily indicate when the infection was acquired. If you or your partner has concerns, testing is the best way to establish whether an infection is present.

Can chlamydia go away on its own?

You shouldn't rely on chlamydia clearing without treatment. Untreated infection can cause complications and can be passed to sexual partners.

How long after treatment should I wait before having sex?

Follow your clinician's advice and wait until you and your partner(s) have completed the appropriate treatment and the recommended period without sex has passed. This reduces the risk of reinfection.

Can I get chlamydia again after treatment?

Yes. Previous infection does not provide reliable immunity against future infection.

Worried you might have chlamydia?

You don't need to feel embarrassed, and you don't need to navigate it alone.

Testing is the first step. If you receive a positive result, TribElle can provide expert clinical assessment and, where appropriate, treatment through our online pharmacy.

From testing to treatment, we're here to make sexual healthcare simpler, more accessible and completely stigma-free.

© TribElle Health Ltd · GPhC Registration 9012688 · tribelle.co.uk · This content is for informational purposes only. Always read the patient information leaflet and consult a qualified healthcare professional.