Symptoms can appear one to three weeks after you've come into contact with
chlamydia, or many months later, or not until the infection spreads to other parts of your body.
Symptoms in Men:
white/cloudy, watery discharge from the tip of the penis
pain when passing urine or painful testicles
If the infection is in the eye or rectum, you may experience discomfort, pain or discharge.
Chlamydia in the throat is uncommon and usually has no symptoms.
Symptoms in Women:
unusual vaginal discharge
bleeding between periods or during or after sex
pain with sex or when passing urine
lower abdominal pain
If you think you might have contracted chlamydia, it's important to get tested quickly. Testing is free on the NHS from genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, sexual health clinics, most contraception clinics, your GP and pharmacies. Testing kits may also be available by post.
The National Chlamydia Screening Programme in England is being extended to ensure all sexually active women and men under 25 can access chlamydia testing - this includes testing in other settings such as youth clubs and colleges.
You can also buy home chlamydia testing kits, but the accuracy of these tests varies so it's important to get good advice from a pharmacist.
Women having intrauterine contraception (IUD or IUS) fitted, or having an abortion, will be offered a chlamydia test.
The test is simple and painless. Either a urine test is done or a swab (like a cotton bud) is used to take a sample of cells from the vagina or urethra. If you've had anal or oral sex, a swab will be taken from the rectum or throat. Your eyes will be tested if you have symptoms of conjunctivitis (discharge from the eye).
Keywords: Chlamydia ; Symptoms of Chlamydia
