What Increases Your Risk

Risk factors for getting chlamydia include:

• Having unprotected sex (not using condoms).
• Having more than one sex partner.
• Having a high-risk partner or partners. This includes people who have more than one sex partner or sex partners who have chlamydia.
• Starting sexual activity before age 18.

Any child with chlamydia needs to be seen by a doctor to determine the cause and to assess for possible sexual abuse. For more information, see the topic Child Abuse and Neglect.

When To Call a Doctor

In women:

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if you have these chlamydia symptoms:

• Sudden, severe pain in the lower abdomen
• Lower abdominal pain with vaginal bleeding or discharge and a fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher
• Urinary burning, frequent urination, or inability to urinate and a fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher

Call your doctor if you have these symptoms:

• Vaginal discharge that becomes yellowish, thicker, or bad-smelling
• Bleeding between periods that occurs more than once when periods are usually regular
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse or douching
• Sores, bumps, rashes, blisters, or warts on or around the genital or anal areas
• Burning, pain, or itching with urination or frequent urination lasting longer than 24 hours
• Pelvic or lower abdominal pain without a known cause, such as diarrhea or menstrual cramps

Also call if you think you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

In men:

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if you have these chlamydia symptoms:

• Discharge from the penis and a fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher
• Urinary burning, frequent urination, or inability to urinate and a fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher
• Pain, swelling, or tenderness in the scrotum and a fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher

Call your doctor if you have these symptoms:

• Sores, bumps, rashes, blisters, or warts on or around the genital or anal areas
• Burning, pain, or itching with urination or frequent urination lasting longer than 24 hours
• Abnormal discharge from the penis

Also call if you think you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Watchful waiting

Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. Watchful waiting is not appropriate for a chlamydia infection. Chlamydia causes no long-term problems if it is treated before any complications develop. But untreated chlamydia can lead to many complications. Avoid sexual contact until you have been examined by your doctor.

If you know you have been exposed to chlamydia, you and your sex partner (or partners) need to be treated. You need to be treated even if you don't have symptoms. Notify all partners with whom you had sex in the 60 days since your symptoms or diagnosis. If you have not had sex in the last 60 days, contact your last sex partner.³

Who to see

Health professionals who can diagnose chlamydia include:

• Nurse practitioners.
• Physician assistants.
• Family medicine physicians.
• Internists.
• Gynecologists.

Low-cost diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia are usually available at local health departments and family planning clinics, such as Planned Parenthood.

Some people are not comfortable seeing their usual doctor for an STI. Most counties have confidential clinics for diagnosing and treating chlamydia and other STIs. But for your future care it would be good for your doctor to know of this infection.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.