The majority of people with MG have no symptoms and the infection will clear itself naturally in some cases. Others may have one or more symptoms.

Signs and symptoms in people with a penis:

• pain when urinating
• a discharge
• pain in their testicles
• proctitis, an inflammation in the rectum causing anal pain and discharge.

MG is spread through unprotected vaginal or anal sex. It’s most prevalent among people who have multiple sexual partners.

You should use a condom while having sex to reduce the risk of getting it or passing it on.

If you have symptoms, MG is diagnosed through a swab taken from the tip of the penis and a urine test, or a swab from inside the vagina.

If a test shows you do have MG, then your current sexual partners should be tested too, even if they’re not showing symptoms.

Everyone who’s sexually active should get regular checkups for STD detection. It’s especially important for people who have multiple sexual partners or who struggle with condom use.

MG is treated with antibiotics.

Some strains have developed resistance to commonly used antibiotics. It may take several rounds of different drugs to clear the infection.

You may still be able to pass it on for up to 14 days after completion of treatment so avoid unprotected sex.

Treatment of MG for people who have HIV is the same as for HIV-negative people.

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.