Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. It can infect both men and women. Women can get chlamydia in the cervix, rectum, or throat. Men can get chlamydia in the urethra (inside the penis), rectum, or throat.You can get chlamydia during oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone who has the infection. A woman can also pass chlamydia to her baby during childbirth.If you've had chlamydia and were treated in the past, you can get re-infected if you have unprotectedChlamydia doesn't usually cause any symptoms. So you may not realize that you have it. People with chlamydia who have no symptoms can still pass the disease to others. If you do have symptoms, they may not appear until several weeks after you have sex with an infected partner.Symptoms in women includeAbnormal vaginal discharge, which may have a strong smellA burning sensation when urinatingPain during intercourseIf the infection spreads, you might get lower abdominal pain, pain during sex, nausea, or fever.Symptoms in men includeDischarge from your penisA burning sensation when urinatingBurning or itching around the opening of your penisPain and swelling in one or both testicles (although this is less common)If the chlamydia infects the rectum (in men or women), it can cause rectal pain, discharge, and/or bleeding.Encyclopedia Entry for Chlamydia Infections :Chlamydia infections in women. Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Both males and females may have this infection. However, they may not have symptoms. As a result, you may become infected or pass the infection to your partner without knowing it. You are more likely to become infected with chlamydia if you have: Sex without using a condom Had multiple sexual partners Been infected with chlamydia before.Most women do not have symptoms. But some have: Burning when they urinate Pain in the lower part of the belly, possibly with fever Painful intercourse Vaginal discharge or bleeding after intercourse.If you have symptoms of a chlamydia infection, your health care provider will collect a culture or perform a test called a nucleic acid amplification test. In the past, testing required a pelvic exam by a health care provider. Today, very accurate tests can be done on urine samples. Vaginal swabs, which a woman collects herself, can also be tested. Results take 1 to 2 days to come back. Your provider may also check you for other types of STIs. Most common STIs are: Gonorrhea HIV/AIDS Syphilis Hepatitis Herpes Even if you have no symptoms, you may need a chlamydia test if you: Are 25 years old or younger and are sexually active (get tested every year) Have a new sexual partner or more than one partner.Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. Some of these are safe to take if you are pregnant. Common side effects include: Nausea Upset stomach Diarrhea Both you and your partner need to take the antibiotics. Finish all of them, even if you feel better and still have some left. All of your sexual partners should be treated. Have them take the medicines even if they do not have symptoms. This will prevent you from passing the STIs back and forth. You and your partner are asked to abstain from sexual intercourse during the time of treatment. Gonorrhea often occurs with chlamydia. Therefore, treatment for gonorrhea is often given at the same time. Safe sex practices are needed to prevent becoming infected with chlamydia or spreading it to others.Antibiotic treatment almost always works. You and your partner should take the medicines as directed. If chlamydia spreads into your uterus and fallopian tubes, it can cause scarring. Scarring can make it harder for you to get pregnant. You can help prevent this by: Finishing your antibiotics when you are treated Making sure your sexual partners also take antibiotics Talking to your provider about being tested for chlamydia and seeing your provider if you have symptoms Wearing condoms and practicing safe sex.Make an appointment with your provider if: You have symptoms of chlamydia You are worried that you might have chlamydia.Cervicitis - chlamydia; STI - chlamydia; STD - chlamydia; Sexually transmitted - chlamydia; PID - chlamydia; Pelvic inflammatory disease - chlamydia.Female reproductive anatomy Female reproductive anatomy Uterus Uterus Antibodies Antibodies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chlamydial infections in adolescents and adults. www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/chlamydia.htm. Updated June 4, 2015. Accessed May 4, 2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for laboratory-based detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 2014. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2014;63(RR-02):1-19. PMID: 24622331. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24622331. Geisler WM. Diagnosis and management of uncomplicated chlamydia trachomatis infections in adolescents and adults: summary of evidence reviewed for the 2015 centers for disease control and prevention sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines. Clin Infect Dis. 2015;(61):774-784. PMID: 26602617 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26602617. Geisler WM. Diseases caused by chlamydiae.