Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that affects the genital regions of both males and females. It can be passed from human to human through sexual contact. It can be contracted through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or via genital contact with an infected person. It can also be passed from mother to baby during birth. Chlamydia cannot be caught via casual contact such as from toilet seats or from swimming pools.

Many people infected with chlamydia are asymptomatic, however if symptoms are experienced they are usually seen 1 to 3 weeks following infection.

Symptoms experienced by a female may include an unusual discharge containing both mucus and pus, bleeding between periods, pain in the lower abdomen and a pain or burning sensation when passing urine. Symptoms in the male include an unusual discharge from the penis containing both pus and mucus, burning and itching in the genital region and a pain or burning sensation when passing urine. In some cases the symptoms may disappear within a matter of days, whilst in others they may persist for longer.

Once diagnosed, uncomplicated chlamydia can usually be easily treated with a course of antibiotics.

All recent sexual partners (within the last six months) of the infected person should be identified and tested for the disease. To avoid further reinfection it is recommended that all partners be treated with antibiotics even if they have a negative test result or do not show any symptoms.

Published guidelines on the management of chlamydia include:

• Clinical effectiveness guideline for the management of Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection by the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV.
• Chlamydia – genital PRODIGY guidance.

It is advised that sexual contact with another person is avoided during the course of antibiotics, or for seven days after treatment if a ‘single-dose’ antibiotic is used.

A national screening programme is underway. Please refer to your local policy document for notification requirements.

Please click here for more information on the National Chlamydia Screening Programme.

In females, untreated chlamydia can lead to serious damage to the uterus and fallopian tubes. This can lead to infertility, chronic pain and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. Rarer complications include inflammation of the vulvovaginal gland, difficulty in passing water and the presence of white blood cells in the urine. Other rare complications include perihepatitis and proctitis or inflammation of the rectum.

In males, untreated chlamydia can lead to epididymitis, infertility and Reiters syndrome. Homosexual males may suffer from chlamydial proctitis.

Men and women may also develop arthritis due to inflammation of the joints.

Using a condom properly and consistently will help prevent infection. The risk of contracting the disease can also be reduced by reducing the number of sexual partners and by reducing the frequency of changing partners.

None.

PRODIGY guidance
www.prodigy.nhs.uk

British Association for Sexual Health and HIV
www.bashh.org

NHS Direct
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

NHS Direct Wales
www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk

BBC Health
www.bbc.co.uk/health

NetDoctor
www.netdoctor.co.uk

National Library for Health
www.library.nhs.uk

Society of Sexual Health Advisers
www.ssha.info

Male Health run by the Men’s Health Forum
www.malehealth.co.uk

Health Protection Agency
www.hpa.org.uk

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network
www.sign.ac.uk

Bandolier
www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier

Clinical evidence from the BMJ publishing group
www.clinicalevidence.com

A comprehensive reference and education site on Chlamydia
www.chlamydiae.com

Young People’s Sexual Health website run by Central Suffolk NHS Trust
www.ypsh.net

Family Planning Association
www.fpa.org.uk

TheSite run by YouthNet UK with advice and support for young adults
www.thesite.org

Playing Safely
www.playingsafely.co.uk

Information for young gay men provided by the Terrence Higgins Trust
www.ygm.org.uk

Teenage health information
www.teenagehealthfreak.com

Information for young people on sexual health and life
www.likeitis.org

Information on sexual health for young people
www.sussed.uk.net

Brook Advisory Centre
www.brooke.org.uk

Department of Health
www.dh.gov.uk

Sexual Health InfoCenter
www.sexhealth.org

World Health Organization
www.who.int

Scotland’s Health on the Web provided by NHS Scotland
www.show.scot.nhs.uk

NHS Wales
www.wales.nhs.uk

Gay Men’s Health
www.gmh.org.uk

Healthy Gay Scotland
www.healthygayscotland.com

Avert – an international AIDS charity
www.avert.org

Health Education Board Scotland
www.hebs.com

Health information relating to the National Curriculum and the National Healthy School Standard
www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk

NAM, Aidsmap (Aids information for patients and health professionals)
www.aidsmap.com