Chlamydia

The most common infection between the ages of 15 - 25 year olds.

Often has no symptoms, but if left untreated, can cause serious problems such as Pelvic Inflammation, ectopic pregnancy or rarely, infertility. Chlamydia can be passed on easily thorough sexual contact:

• Vaginal, penile, anal, oral sex
• Sharing sex toys
• Pregnant women can pass the untreated infection to their baby at birth

The symptoms are rare.

70% of females have no symptoms. 50% of males have no symptoms.

If you do notice symptoms, they are likely to be:

• Pain when urinating
• Discharge from the penis, vagina or rectum (back passage)
• Women may experience lower abdominal pain, bleeding between periods, bleeding during sex, pain during sex
• Men may experience pain or swelling of the testicles and painful sex

Testing is free easy and simple

If you have a vagina, a self-taken swab is done. If you have a penis then a urine sample is collected. If you have ever had anal sex, a self-taken swab is done.

It can take up to 2 weeks for the infection to show up in your body, after the sex you are concerned about. This is called the incubation period.

If you have symptoms then a trained and qualified Nurse or Doctor will examine you and likely recommend some other tests. The Nurse or Doctor will discuss these with you.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea are both bacterial infections so are therefore treated with antibiotics.

You and your partner(s) should refrain from having sex for 7 days after treatment. This stops you both from being reinfected. This ensures enough time for the bacteria to be killed.

For gonorrhoea, we will offer you a repeat test after 3 weeks to make sure the infection has gone and the antibiotics have worked.

If left untreated, long-term effects of gonorrhoea can include:

• Pain, discharge
• Male and female infertility
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Miscarriage
• Scarring of male urethra
• Can be passed to the baby during pregnancy which may cause eye infections or genital infections in the newborn