What is the treatment for chlamydia?
A short course of an antibiotic usually clears chlamydial infection. Even if you have no symptoms, treatment is strongly advised to prevent possible complications. Tell your doctor if you are (or may be) pregnant. This may affect the choice of antibiotic. Do not have sex until you and your sexual partner have finished treatment (or for seven days after treatment with a 'single dose' antibiotic which is sometimes used).
Does my partner need to be treated?
Yes. Also, any other sexual partners within the past six months should also be tested for infection. (If you have not had sex within the last six months then your latest sexual partner should be tested and treated, however long ago the relationship was.) A course of an antibiotic is usually advised whether or not infection is found on testing. This is because:
- Chlamydial infection is commonly passed on during sex.
- Men and women often have no symptoms with chlamydia, but can still pass on the infection.
- The test for chlamydia is not 100% reliable. Treatment makes sure that any possible infection which may have been missed by the tests is cleared.
- If your sexual partner is infected and not treated, chlamydia can be passed back to you again after you are treated.
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Where to next?
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Advice about sexual partners
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Advice from a sexual health adviser
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Anogenital warts (genital warts)
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Conditions that are not STIs
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Genital herpes
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HIV and AIDS
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Other conditions that are sometimes thought of as STIs
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Other conditions that are sometimes thought of as STIs (cont'd)
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Pubic lice
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Sexually transmitted diseases
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Some other points about trichomonas infection
