Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK. It is a bacterial infection passed on through unprotected sex that, if left untreated, can cause issues with fertility, as well as pregnancy complications.
Chlamydia can usually be treated with a short course of antibiotics, with doxycycline and azithromycin being the most widely effective antibiotics for chlamydia.
These antibiotics are effective at treating chlamydia by killing the bacteria (known as chlamydia trachomatis) that causes the infection.
Don't wait any longer to get the medical help you need. Once you complete a short online assessment about your condition, you will be able to select your preferred treatment and quantity from a list of appropriate options for you.
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis.
Chlamydia infections are very common, particularly among those under the age of 25. That said, chlamydial infections can be contracted at any age if you’re a sexually active person.
Chlamydia is commonly transmitted via sexual intercourse, namely semen and vaginal fluid during oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Note that it can be passed from one partner to another without ejaculation.
It can also be passed through sex toys that have not been cleaned after use or have not been replaced with a clean condom. This means the infection can be transmitted without penetration or ejaculation.
Genital chlamydia can be contracted in a variety of ways, including:
Chlamydia isn’t something that can be caught through casual contact. For instance, It’s unlikely you’ll contract the disease by holding hands or kissing, nor can it be transmitted by sharing household items like towels, baths or cutlery.
The majority of people with chlamydia don’t experience any symptoms at all.
Sometimes referred to as the silent infection, It’s estimated around 70% of women and around 50% of men don’t notice any symptoms despite carrying the Chlamydia infection.
When noticeable symptoms do develop, they will usually occur between one and three weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. The following symptoms differ for women and men:
Chlamydia Symptoms In Women:
Chlamydia Symptoms In Men:
However, many men and women infected with chlamydia are asymptomatic, making it easier to pass on to another person. If you think you’ve had unprotected sexual contact with someone who might have chlamydia, get tested for the infection with a trusted health provider.
Whether you are experiencing the symptoms or not, the only way to know for sure is to get tested. Fortunately, it’s relatively simple to diagnose chlamydia. After all, the available methods of testing are quick and painless.
You can buy chlamydia testing kits and medicine subject to our online consultation for STIs here at The Independent Pharmacy. We offer a speedy and reliable service to give you the medical advice you require.
Order chlamydia testing kits and medication and receive fast delivery, including discreet packaging, without having to step into your local pharmacy. Simply fill out your medical questionnaire and a medical professional will assess your order to ensure it is safe and effective for you, before shipping it out to your home.
Your GP or nurse can also provide a free chlamydia test. For most people, a test is carried out using a simple urine sample. This sample is then sent away for analysis. Another test will use a swab to collect a sample of contaminated cells. This involves gently wiping the swab over the area suspected to be infected with chlamydia. The swab will then be sent away for analysis.
If you have tested positive for chlamydia your sexual partner must be also treated at the same time to avoid re-infection. If you have had unprotected sex with someone who has tested positive for chlamydia it is not necessary to get a test if you do not wish to do so. If you have been positively tested for chlamydia or have had unprotected sex with a partner who has, you can buy chlamydia treatment directly from our Online Pharmacy.
For sexually active adults under the age of 25, it is recommended to get tested every year or every time you have a new sexual partner. The National Chlamydia Screening Programme can offer testing in an array of places close and convenient to you or you can purchase a home chlamydia test from our Online Pharmacy.
If you test positive for chlamydia, it is advised that you contact any sexual partners you’ve had within the past six months. This will ensure they can be checked and receive treatment if necessary. Sexual health clinics are readily available and are willing to contact these partners on your behalf if you wish. Everything is handled confidentially and your name will not appear on any of the correspondence.
The recommended criteria for getting tested for chlamydia include the following:
If you suspect or are experiencing any symptoms of chlamydia, it’s very important to get tested. If left untreated it could potentially spread and create further complications. In women, it can spread into the womb and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is a major cause of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and infertility.
Fortunately treating chlamydia is quick and easy. It involves a short course of antibiotics.
The two most commonly prescribed chlamydia treatments are Azithromycin and Doxycycline. They are an effective treatment for chlamydia, and if taken correctly cure more than 95 out of every 100 cases of chlamydia.
Doxycycline is the currently recommended first-line antibiotic to treat chlamydia by the UK health body the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Doxycycline is a longer course treatment and will involve taking two capsules every day for one week. However, it currently has a lower chance of bacterial resistance than azithromycin meaning treatment is more likely to be effective.
If complications are suspected then a longer course of antibiotics may be necessary. Ensure you follow the treatment guidelines set out on medication to treat chlamydia. If treatment is taken incorrectly then it could be ineffective.
If doxycycline isn’t appropriate, usually because of an allergy, then azithromycin will become the preferred antibiotic. Azithromycin is taken as a single-dose treatment of two tablets. Both 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.
You can purchase chlamydia treatment online from The Independent Pharmacy if you meet one of the following criteria:
You should refrain from having sex for at least one week after completing your course of chlamydia treatment antibiotics.
If your sexual partner hasn’t undergone any treatment, it would be advised not to have sex with them until they have been tested or have taken the appropriate antibiotics.
It is advised to always avoid having sex until all the related symptoms have gone completely (for 7 days as a minimum).
Chlamydia antibiotics, Azithromycin or Doxycycline, usually clear symptoms quickly. Pain on passing urine and discharge normally clear within a week.
However pelvic pain 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 then you should see your doctor or local sexual health clinic for further treatment.
If the course of chlamydia treatment is taken correctly then there will be no need for re-testing to check the chlamydia has gone. A follow-up test is only advised if any of the following applies:
There are many reasons why you may be experiencing persistent symptoms. For example, due to antibiotic resistance, sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia are becoming more difficult to treat.
Here are some other reasons why your chlamydia symptoms might not be clearing up :
In the case of failed treatment or unresolved symptoms, you should see your GP or visit your local GUM clinic.
Chlamydia does not go away on its own and should not be left untreated. Why? Because not getting treated leaves you open to a myriad of risk factors.
Men who don’t get treated risk several complications, including swollen testicles (orchitis), reactive arthritis, and infertility.
Chlamydia may also cause problems with the reproductive system. For example, women who go without treatment run the risk of infection spreading to the uterus and fallopian tubes, resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease and even infertility.
Moreover, the infection in pregnant women can pass to the child during delivery via the birth canal. It can cause pneumonia, eye infections, preterm labour and 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.
Common antibiotic treatments like doxycycline cannot be taken during pregnancy, but azithromycin is safe and effective. If you think you have chlamydia and you are pregnant, you should see your doctor for treatment.
There are measures you can take which will help guard against chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases.
These include:
No, although it is commonly thought that chlamydia is 'the clap', it is gonorrhoea that 'the clap' refers to. Gonorrhoea tests are also available from The Independent Pharmacy.
There are many reasons why you may be experiencing persistent symptoms. These could include:
In the case of failed treatment or unresolved symptoms, you should see your GP or visit your local GUM clinic.
You must tell your current partner and other sexual partners within the last six months if you have been tested positive for chlamydia because:
We understand that this may be a difficult conversation, however, you must tell your previous sexual partners if you have been diagnosed with chlamydia to allow them to be tested and treated.
Chlamydia antibiotics, Azithromycin or Doxycycline, usually clear symptoms quickly. Pain on passing urine and discharge normally clear within a week,
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.
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 — though, not everyone that comes into contact with chlamydia 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 regulations to be able to safely provide convenient access to genuine prescription antibiotics through our online pharmacy.
It's simple! All you will need to do is 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 five minutes and they can be delivered to your door.
Because chlamydia doesn’t exhibit many symptoms, spotting the signs of this infection can be tricky. Many people have contracted this STD without knowing and it’s left untreated. There can be tricky complications for those that do not treat chlamydia early enough.
Authored by
Dr Don Grant is The Independent Pharmacy's original online prescriber and has advanced in his role to become the Clinical Advisor, using his wealth of experience to advise on our clinical polices and prescribing guidelines.
Reviewed by
Dan is an experienced pharmacist having spent time working in both primary and secondary care. He currently supports our clinical team by providing robust clinical governance review of our internal processes and information.
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