Symptoms might show within one to three weeks of infection, but around half of men and most women have no symptoms.

Chlamydia in the penis can cause:

• a whitish, cloudy or watery discharge 
• pain when urinating
• burning or itching in the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body)
• pain and swelling in the testicles.

In the rectum it generally causes no symptoms but might cause discomfort and discharge.

Chlamydia in the throat is usually symptom free.

In the eyes, it can cause pain, redness and discharge (conjunctivitis).

You can get chlamydia through:

• vaginal, oral or anal sex without condoms
• sharing sex toys that are not washed or covered with a condom each time they are used on a different person
• your genitals (penis) coming into contact with your partner’s genitals
• infected semen or vaginal fluid getting in your eye.

It’s not yet known whether chlamydia is spread on fingers when you touch an infected part of the body, then touch other parts of your body or someone else’s.

Using the external or internal condom cuts the risk. Other types of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill, offer no protection against STIs.

Chlamydia tests are simple and painless.

A sample of cells can be collected for testing in two ways:

• giving a sample of urine
• gently wiping a swab (small cotton bud) over the area that might be infected.

Swabs only take a few seconds and don’t hurt – they may be uncomfortable for a moment or two.

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics.

You could pass on the infection if you have sex before treatment has finished. This includes vaginal, anal and oral sex, even with a condom. To prevent re-infection or passing the infection on, wait 7 days after your treatment has finished to have sex.

Even if you are given a single dose of antibiotics, you need to wait 7 days to have sex.

It is important that people you have had sex with recently are also tested and treated

If chlamydia is not treated it can sometimes causes serious problems, including pain, inflammation and infertility in men and women. It can also lead to complications in pregnancy.

The more people you have sex with, especially unprotected sex, the more chance there is of catching infections like chlamydia. You can have them without knowing, so regular check-ups are a good idea, especially if you are starting a new relationship and/or you want to stop using condoms with your partner.

Most people get tested and treated for infections like chlamydia at sexual health clinics or at an appointment with a dermatovenerologist, urologist, gynecologist. It’s free and confidential, so no one else will be told about your visit.

If diagnosed early, chlamydia is easily treatable. HIV infection doesn’t affect the treatment regimen.

When you have chlamydia, it may put your HIV-negative partners at a higher probability of getting HIV from you. This is because STIs often manifest with ulcers, sores, inflammation or broken skin, and they may allow HIV to leave your body and expose your partner more easily. Additionally, people living with HIV having an STI have more HIV in their semen (cum), causing HIV transmission more likely.

If your viral load stays undetectable and CD4 count remains average, you don’t have to worry – there is no risk of sexually transmitting HIV to HIV-negative partners, even if you have STI.

Certain medications for HIV can have unwanted interactions with drugs used for chlamydia treatment. So, your doctor should be aware of your HIV status and choose the proper treatment. You can verify HIV and non-HIV drug interactions at hiv-druginteractions.org.

If you have chlamydia, you are more likely to get HIV than someone STI-free. This is because the same types of behaviour and conditions that may put you at risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection STI increase the risk of getting HIV. The presence of STI manifestations such as ulcers, sores, inflammation or broken skin caused by STI may allow HIV to enter your body more easily.