Chlamydia are bacteria that can live in the mucous membranes of the genitals (vagina, penis) and the anus. This can cause an infection of the cervix, urethra or anus. Both men and women can get chlamydia. Usually you don’t even notice you’ve got it. 

When you have been infected with chlamydia, symptoms may occur within 1-3 weeks. Men usually notice they have chlamydia when they have discharge coming from their penis. It’s often watery and occurs after getting up in the morning (early-morning discharge). Peeing can be painful or give a burning sensation. In women, chlamydia can also cause discharge or irritation when you’re having a pee. Chlamydia can affect your anus too, giving symptoms like itching or pain when you’re having a poo. 

Women and girls usually don’t even notice that they have chlamydia. So their chlamydia infection may be left untreated for a long time. A quarter of the men or boys with chlamydia do not have any symptoms. In the meantime, you can pass on the infection without even noticing it. 

Chlamydia is easy to treat with a course of antibiotics. So, go to the doctor as soon as you can. Have you had unsafe sex or have you got one or more symptoms? Go to your doctor or a Sense drop-in session.

The infection can spread to other parts of the body, although this is less likely to happen in men than in women. Bacteria may spread to the prostate and the epididymis through the urethra. This can cause an infection in the prostate or the epididymis:

• A prostate infection often causes a fever and pain in the lower abdomen.
• An infection of the epididymis (epididymitis) can give severe pain in the scrotum, sometimes radiating into the groin area. You’ll feel a swelling in the scrotum.
• Sometimes epididymitis can cause an infection in the testicles. This also causes swelling and pain.
• Infections of the epididymis and the testicles can make you less fertile. 

Chlamydia can spread to your fallopian tubes. They may become infected and this infection can spread to your abdominal cavity. An infection of the fallopian tubes may cause a fever. You don’t feel well and have lower abdominal pain. Early treatment (antibiotics and bed rest) can cure a fallopian tube infection completely.  

What if an infection of the fallopian tubes is left untreated, or treated too late? This can cause scar tissue and a tube may become blocked. And this, in turn, can cause infertility or an ectopic pregnancy. Infertility almost never occurs.

If you’re pregnant, you can pass chlamydia on to your baby during the delivery. This may give the baby a serious eye infection or pneumonia. Treatment during pregnancy ensures that the baby is not at risk.