Chlamydia - meaning and definition
Alsochlamydia trachomatischlamydial infectionclamydiachlamidiachlamydia infection
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. This health entry was written from the public-health sources listed below and is general information only. It is not medical advice.
Definition
Chlamydia is a common bacterial STI that often causes no symptoms and is easily cured with antibiotics once it has been found through testing.
At a glance
- Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
- It is one of the most frequently diagnosed STIs worldwide, especially among young adults.
- Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms.
- Testing is usually a urine sample or a self-taken swab.
- It is cured with a short course of antibiotics, and current partners should be tested and treated too.
In detail
Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is passed on through vaginal, anal or oral sex and by sharing sex toys. It is one of the most frequently diagnosed STIs worldwide, especially among young adults.
Most people with chlamydia notice nothing. When symptoms do appear they can include pain when urinating, unusual discharge, or bleeding between periods. Testing is simple, usually a urine sample or a self-taken swab.
Untreated chlamydia can spread to the reproductive organs and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ongoing pelvic pain and fertility problems, or to painful swelling of the testicles. A short course of antibiotics clears it, and current partners should be tested and treated too.
In a sentence
- The clinic texted to say my chlamydia test was negative.
- My friend said chlamydia was easy to treat once it was found, and her partner got treated at the same time.
Where the word comes from
The name comes from the Greek "chlamys", a cloak, describing how the bacteria appear to drape around the nucleus of an infected cell under the microscope.
Not to be confused with
- Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a different bacterial STI with similar symptoms; the two are often tested for together.
Common questions
Can chlamydia go away on its own?
It should not be left to clear by itself. Untreated chlamydia can spread to the reproductive organs and cause pelvic inflammatory disease, ongoing pain or fertility problems. A short course of antibiotics clears it. A sexual health clinic or doctor can advise on your own situation.
How do you test for chlamydia?
Testing is simple and usually painless: a urine sample or a swab, which many people can take themselves. Tests are available at sexual health clinics, some family doctors and pharmacies, and through home self-sampling kits in many areas.
Related terms
Sources
- WHOChlamydia fact sheet
- NHSChlamydia
- Planned ParenthoodChlamydia