Explainer
Chlamydia: Everything you need to know
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Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI, and chances are good that you or someone you know has had it. Here's the straight talk on what it is, how you get it, and why it's really not that big a deal to treat.
Real talk
Chlamydia is incredibly common.
We're talking about the most frequently reported STI in Australia, especially among young women. It's a bacterial infection that's completely curable with antibiotics, but it can cause serious problems if left untreated.
Most people have no symptoms.
That's why regular testing is so important—you can have chlamydia for months or even years without knowing it.
It's not just about vaginal sex.
Chlamydia can infect your genitals, throat, or rectum depending on what kind of sex you're having.
How you get it
- You can get chlamydia from: Any genital, anal, or oral sex where fluids are exchanged, sharing sex toys that have genital or anal fluids on them, or fingers/hands that have infected fluids getting into your vagina, anus, or urethra.
- You can't get chlamydia from: Kissing, toilet seats, swimming pools, or casual contact like hugging.
- Symptoms to watch for (if any): Most people have no symptoms at all. When they do show up: unusual discharge, pain when you pee, pain or bleeding during sex, or bleeding between periods. In the throat or anus, there are usually no symptoms.
- Don't wait for symptoms to get tested. Most people with chlamydia feel completely fine.
Testing and treatment
Getting tested
Chlamydia testing is part of routine STI screening. You can do a urine test or self-collected swab for genital chlamydia. For throat and anal chlamydia, ask for swab tests at those sites too.
Treatment
Chlamydia testing is part of routine STI screening. You can do a urine test or self-collected swab for genital chlamydia. For throat and anal chlamydia, ask for swab tests at those sites too.
Partner notification
Anyone you've had sex with in the past 60 days should get tested and treated.
View our partner notification guideMyth-busting
“Only promiscuous people get chlamydia”
Nope. You can get it from one partner.
“You can tell if someone has an STI by looking”
Absolutely not. Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms.
“Once you've had it, you can't get it again”
Totally false. You can get chlamydia multiple times.
“Natural remedies can cure chlamydia”
Don't risk it. You need antibiotics to clear bacterial infections.
Why it matters
For our community
Most research focuses on heterosexual transmission, but we know transmission happens between people with vaginas too. Some providers might assume you're not at risk—be specific about your activities to get appropriate testing.
