1. Home  
  2. Health  
  3. Health issues  
  4. STBBIs  
  5. Chlamydia

Chlamydia

Description

Chlamydia is an infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. A person can have chlamydia more than once in his or her life.

Symptoms

People with chlamydia most often do not show symptoms. A person may be infected without knowing it.

When a person has symptoms, they appear 2 to 3 weeks after infection. This period can sometimes be as long as 6 weeks.

Symptoms of chlamydia include the following:

  • Abnormal vaginal discharge
  • Vaginal bleeding after sex and between periods (menstrual cycles)
  • Abnormal discharge from the penis or anus
  • Tingling or burning sensation when urinating
  • Pain in the testicles or around the anus

Mothers may pass on infections to their babies during childbirth. The infection can affect their eyes (conjunctivitis) or their lungs (pneumonia). They can have the following symptoms:

  • For conjunctivitis: red, watery eyes developing when the child is between 1 and 2 weeks old.
  • For pneumonia: coughing, difficulty breathing or wheezing, rapid pulse developing before the child is 6 months old.

When to consult

If you have symptoms, or if you have had unprotected sex, see a health-care professional or contact Info-Santé 811.

Treatment

Chlamydia is treated with medication. Treatment heals infections completely. People infected must receive treatment as soon as possible to avoid complications.

Medication to treat chlamydia is free for those infected and for their sexual partners. To receive medication, people infected and their partners must first get a prescription. They can then obtain medicine at a pharmacy upon presentation of their health insurance card.

Precautions to take during treatment

Treatment requires a certain amount of time to heal the infection. During this period, the person is still contagious.

In order to not spread chlamydia or catch it again, the infected person and his or her partners must avoid having sex until they are healed.

Before having sex, the infected person and his or her partners must wait:

  • Until the end of the treatment, if it involves taking pills for several days
  • 7 days after treatment, if it involves a single dose

Also, they must wait until any symptoms are completely gone.

If they cannot wait, the infected person and his or her partners can use a condom. They may also use a sheet of latex to cover the vulva or anus during oral sex. This way, the mouth does not come into direct contact with the genitals. A sheet of latex can be made by unrolling a condom, cutting off both ends and then cutting it lengthwise.

Inform partners

People with chlamydia should inform their sexual partners immediately. This way:

  • They can avoid getting chlamydia again from untreated partners
  • Their partners can quickly get tested, receive appropriate treatment and avoid complications
  • Their partners can avoid spreading the infections to other people

Complications

If left untreated, chlamydia can last several months and lead to complications, even in people with no symptoms.

Possible complications include:

  • Infertility
  • Chronic pain in the lower abdomen
  • Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the fallopian tubes)
  • Testicular pain
  • Chronic infection of the prostate (prostatitis)

Chlamydia also increases the risk of getting or spreading HIV.

Transmission

An infected person can spread chlamydia even if he or she has no symptoms.

Sexual transmission can occur during:

  • Oral sex (contact of the mouth with the penis, vulva, vagina or anus)
  • Vaginal sex (penetration of the vagina with the penis)
  • Anal sex (penetration of the anus with the penis)
  • Genital contact between partners
  • Sharing of sex toys

Sexual transmission can occur in the absence of penetration, orgasm or ejaculation.

An infected mother can pass on chlamydia to her baby during childbirth. For further information, read the Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (STBBIs) and Pregnancy page.

Protection and prevention

Vaccination

There is no vaccine to protect against chlamydia.

Sexual protection

For the best protection against chlamydia, use a condom:

  • During all contact between genital organs
  • During the entire course of oral, vaginal or anal sex
  • With each sexual encounter

The use of a sheet of latex to cover the vulva or anus during oral sex lowers the risk of spreading chlamydia. It helps prevent direct contact between the mouth and the genitals. A sheet of latex can be made by unrolling a condom, cutting off both ends and then cutting it lengthwise.

Sex toys should not be shared. People who share sex toys can lower the risk of spreading chlamydia by covering them with a condom. They must change condoms between each partner.

Testing

A person who has had unprotected sex should consult a health-care professional to see if he or she needs to be tested. This way, a person with chlamydia can avoid passing it on to other people and prevent complications.

Testing for chlamydia is done by analysing urine sample or secretions collected from the vagina, cervix, urethra or anus.

To be tested, consult a health-care professional or call Info-Santé 811.

Last update: March 9, 2017

Comments

Was the information on this page useful to you?
General notice

You have questions or require additional information?

Please contact Services Québec