Chlamydia is a common, but curable, STI that can cause infection among both men and women. It can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system.

Most people who have chlamydia don’t have symptoms, so they can spread the infection without knowing it.

Risks

• spreads through sex (vaginal, oral, or anal) without a condom with a partner who has the infection
• young people are at a higher risk of getting chlamydia due to behaviors and biological factors common among them
• gay and bisexual men are also at risk since chlamydia can spread through oral and anal sex

Symptoms

• Most people who have chlamydia don’t have symptoms, so they can spread the infection without knowing it
• discharge from the vagina, penis, or anus
• burning sensation when peeing
• rectal pain and/or bleeding
• for women, pain in the lower belly
• for men, pain and/or swelling in testicles

Testing

• detected by a lab test
• urine sample or swab for vaginal sample

Treatment

• treated and cured with antibiotics
• repeat infection is possible and common
• left untreated, it can cause permanent damage in women, making it difficult or impossible to get pregnant later

Source and more info: CDC – Chlamydia