Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia Trachomatis.

Chlamydia is transmitted through semen and vaginal fluid during genital, oral and anal sex. It can be passed from one partner to another even if the man has not ejaculated. It can also be passed through sex toys that have not been washed or cleaned after use or have not been replaced with a clean condom.

No, although it is commonly thought that Chlamydia is 'The Clap', it is actually Gonorrhoea that 'The Clap' refers to. Gonorrhoea tests are also available from The Independent Pharmacy.

Around 70-80% of women and 50% of men with chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If women do get symptoms, the most common include: 


• Pain when urinating (peeing)
• A change in vaginal discharge
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Pain and/or bleeding during sex
• Bleeding after sex
• Bleeding between periods
• Heavier periods than usual

Around half of all men with chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If men do get symptoms, the most common include:

• Pain when urinating (peeing)
• Discharge from the tip of the penis (this can be a white, cloudy or watery discharge)
• Pain in the testicles

Some men have mild symptoms that disappear after two or three days. Even if the symptoms disappear you will still have the infection and be able to pass it on.

Untreated Chlamydia won’t go away by itself and can do more harm to your body. If Chlamydia is left untreated in women, it can spread to the womb and causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is a major cause of infertility, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

If Chlamydia is left untreated in men they are at risk of complications of Chlamydia such as orchitis (swollen testicles), reactive arthritis, and infertility. Chlamydia treatment is easy and the infection is curable.

The Independent Pharmacy offers a discreet home test that includes the lab costs, the urine container and the pre-paid envelope. You will receive your results by email, normally within 72 hours of sending off your sample.

Symptoms can appear one to three weeks after infection, many months later, or not until the infection has spread to other parts of your body. The test for Chlamydia will tell you if you have the infection but it will not be able to determine how long you have had it.

Up to 50% of men and 70% of women do not show symptoms of the infection. It can take one to three weeks for the symptoms to develop, however they can occur months later. You can have no symptoms but still carry the infection and have the ability to infect others.

It can take up to 2 weeks for a positive Chlamydia test to show, therefore we recommend people wait at least 10 days from their unprotected sexual encounter before testing. This will help to prevent false readings in the test results and ensure you get an accurate diagnosis.

There are many reasons why you maybe experiencing persistent symptoms. These could include:

• You have another underlying sexually transmitted infection (STI) at the same time. This will need further investigations or tests. Gonorrhoea commonly occurs in conjunction with Chlamydia.
• You have an unrelated infection e.g. a lower urinary tract infection or endometriosis.
• On rare occasions the strain of bacteria can be resistant to the antibiotics and further treatment is required. Another chlamydia test may be required but this will have to be performed after 6 weeks. Any earlier and the test will present a positive result from the initial infection.

In the case of failed treatment or unresolved symptoms you should see your GP or visit your local GUM clinic.

It is important you tell your current partner and other sexual partners within the last 6 months if you have been tested positive for chlamydia because:

• They may not know they have an infection and can spread it to others.
• If it is left untreated it can lead to serious complications such as infertility.
• Chlamydia treatment is easy, simple and the infection is curable.

We understand that this may be a difficult conversation, however it is very important you tell your previous sexual partners if you have been diagnosed with Chlamydia to allow them to be tested and treated.

There isn’t a way of knowing how long you have had Chlamydia for; you may not of caught it recently. The test only gives a positive result with no indication of how long you have been infected. You may have had the infection for a long time and transmitted it to others without knowing. Partners can feel angry, scared, embarrassed or worried but appreciate you confiding in them.

Chlamydia antibiotics, Azithromycin or Doxycycline, usually clear symptoms quickly. Pain on passing urine and discharge normally clear within a week, however pelvic or testicular pain can take two weeks to pass. Menstrual irregularities should improve by the next cycle. Any symptoms that persist may be an indicator of failed treatment, if this occurs you should see your doctor or local sexual health clinic for further treatment.

Yes, it is important to treat both sexual partners for Chlamydia if they have had sex because one partner untreated or partially treated can re-infect the other. After treatment you need to abstain from sexual activity for one week. This includes genital, oral and anal sex even with a condom.

Azithromycin is taken a single dose treatment of two tablets. Both the tablets are swallowed at once with a glass of water on an empty stomach. It needs to be taken either an hour before food or two hours after food for maximum effectiveness.

Take one Doxycycline capsule in the morning and one capsule in the evening, roughly 12 hours apart. A full course to treat Chlamydia is seven days treatment, 14 capsules in total.

Doxycycline should be taken on an empty stomach whilst sitting upright or standing. We do not recommend you take the medication directly before going to bed as it may cause irritation of the oesophagus. Ensure you drink plenty of water with each dose. Unlike other antibiotics in the tetracycline family, taking it with food does not significantly affect the absorption. If you feel nauseous or experience an upset tummy then swallow the capsules with food.

Chlamydia can be passed from the mother to the child during delivery via the birth canal. It can cause pneumonia, eye infections, pre-term labour and a low birth weight.

Chlamydia screening and treatment for chlamydia during pregnancy can prevent these complications. This is not part of the routine NHS antenatal screening but your midwife or GP can arrange a simple swab test. Doxycycline cannot be taken during pregnancy, but azithromycin is safe and effective.

If you think you have Chlamydia and you are pregnant, you should always see your doctor for treatment.

Use a barrier method, such as a condom, to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases. Clean sex toys before using them again or replace the condom and them for each new sexual activity. At the start of a new sexual relationship, both partners should be tested for STIs (and treated if necessary) before sexual contact.

You may wish to go ahead and get Chlamydia treatment without being tested if you have had unprotected sex with someone who has Chlamydia. You can also get a Chlamydia test to see if you have a positive result. If you do get a positive result, you will need to take antibiotic treatment to cure your Chlamydia infection, this is normally very straightforward.

If you have had sex with other partners since you were infected, you need to contact them to let them know that they should take a Chlamydia test and may require treatment.

If you take a Chlamydia test and you get a negative result, you may wish to take chlamydia treatment. If you have had sex with a partner who has Chlamydia, although most people will go on to develop chlamydia, not everyone that comes into contact will become infected. However, there is also a chance of a false-negative test, meaning you may wish to have Chlamydia treatment anyway for peace of mind.

Yes, as long as you are buying from a website that is a legally operating and regulated pharmacy it is perfectly safe to buy Chlamydia antibiotic treatment online. The Independent Pharmacy is an NHS Online Pharmacy based in Bristol and has all the necessary regulation to be able to safely provide convenient access to genuine prescription antibiotics through our Online Pharmacy.

It simple! All you will need to fill in a simple health questionnaire so we can ensure that Chlamydia treatment will be safe and effective for you. It all takes less than 5 minutes and they can be delivered to your door.