Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Health and Wellness
  • For Teens by Teens
  • Sexual Health
  • Chlamydia
Content

Chlamydia

It’s important to get regular chlamydia screening because it can cause serious complications if untreated.

Teens participating in the Summer Wellness Programs

Teens participating in the Summer Wellness Programs

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.

Even though symptoms of chlamydia can often be mild or absent, serious potential complications can cause irreversible damage, including infertility.

How is it Spread?

Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Chlamydia can also be passed from an infected mother to the baby during vaginal childbirth.

Any sexually active person can be infected with chlamydia. The greater the number of sex partners, the greater the risk of infection. Because the cervix (opening to the uterus) of teenage girls and young women is not fully matured, they are at particularly high risk for infection if sexually active.

Since chlamydia can be transmitted by oral or anal sex, men who have sex with men are also at risk for chlamydial infection.

Symptoms

  • Frequently asymptomatic (no symptoms).
  • Vaginal or penile discharge.
  • Burning during urination.
  • Women may experience lower abdominal pain, pain during intercourse and irregular bleeding between periods.
  • Men may experience swelling or pain in the testicles.

What are the Effects?

If untreated, chlamydia can progress to serious reproductive and other health problems with both short-term and long-term consequences.

In women, untreated infection can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This happens in up to 40 percent of women with untreated chlamydia.

PID can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus and surrounding tissues. The damage can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus). Women infected with chlamydia are up to five times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed.

To help prevent the serious consequences of chlamydia, screening at least annually for chlamydia is recommended for all sexually active women age 25 years and younger.

In men, infection sometimes spreads to the epididymis (a tube that carries sperm from the testis), causing pain, fever and, rarely, sterility.

Prevention

  • The best way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted infections is to abstain from sexual contact or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner is known to be uninfected.
  • Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of chlamydia transmission.
  • If you’re a sexually active woman age 25 or younger, get screened annually for chlamydia. Any genital symptoms such as discharge, burning during urination or unusual sore or rash should be a signal to stop having sex and to consult a healthcare provider immediately.
  • If a person has been treated for chlamydia (or any other STI), they should notify all recent sex partners to see a healthcare provider and be treated.

Last Reviewed: September 2019

Related Articles

  • Depo-Provera
  • Abstinence
  • Gonorrhea
  • Defining Virginity
  • Female Condom
  • Protecting Yourself

More Resources

View Sutter's full medical library

Healthwise Medical Library

Look up helpful health information.

View information for Sutter Health Patients

Patient Information

Practical info for Sutter patients.

Tools and Quizzes

Tools and Quizzes

Online tools to help you make decisions about your health.

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Annual Report
  • Awards
  • Community Benefit
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Giving
  • Find Care

  • Birth Centers
  • Care Centers
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Imaging
  • Labs
  • Surgery Centers
  • Urgent Care
  • Walk-In Care
  • View All >
  • Featured Services

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cancer Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Care
  • Women's Health
  • View All >
  • Patient Resources

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Classes and Events
  • Estimate Costs
  • Health and Wellness
  • Medical Records
  • Medicare Advantage
  • My Health Online
  • Pay a Bill
  • Symptom Checker
  • Our Team

  • For Employees
  • Physician Careers
  • Recruiting Events
  • Residencies and Fellowships
  • Sutter Careers
  • Vendors
  • Volunteers
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window

    Copyright © 2022 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

    Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences