Can chlamydia lay dormant

How Long Does Chlamydia Take to Show Up: Symptoms & Treatment

Although chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), many people have no idea that they’re infected.

Like gonorrhea and HPV, chlamydia can occur without any symptoms, and even if you have symptoms, they may not happen for some time.

This makes it hard to figure out what’s going on and when to see a doctor.

To help you stay healthy, in this article, I’ll explain how long chlamydia can take to show up, the symptoms to look for, how to get tested, common treatments, and when to see a healthcare provider.

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How Long for Chlamydia to Show Up?

Most people who have chlamydia have no symptoms—at least not at first.

Some never develop symptoms, while others only develop them 1-3 weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected partner.

Below is a breakdown of how long it takes for chlamydia to show up in different sexes and parts of the body.

People with penises

Although the symptoms of genital chlamydia differ slightly between people who have penises and those who have vulvas, the time it takes for the infection to show up is the same: Symptoms typically develop 7-21 days after contact with an infected partner.

People with vulvas

The time it takes for people with vulvas and people with penises to experience chlamydia symptoms does not differ: Both usually notice symptoms about 1-3 weeks after exposure.

However, people with vulvas are more likely than those with penises to be asymptomatic: About 90% of women have no symptoms compared with 70% of men.

Throat

Similar to other areas of the body, chlamydia symptoms may take about 7-21 days to show up in the throat.

Chlamydia in the throat is typically caused by having oral sex with someone who has contracted the infection.

Although throat chlamydia is less common, it’s important to ask your doctor for a throat swab if you may have been exposed to chlamydia through oral sex, as this screening is not always part of routine STI testing.

Eyes

Although rare, you can develop chlamydia in your eyes if they come in contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid.

However, you may not realize what’s causing those red, itchy eyes because symptoms can take weeks to develop.

Anus

Receiving anal sex from an infected partner can lead to chlamydia of the anus in men and women.

It’s also believed that if a person with a vulva has chlamydia, during sex, the infection may spread from their cervix to their anus and infect their rectum.

Either way, these infections are often asymptomatic, but symptoms could show up within a few weeks.

Symptoms of Chlamydia

Due to its often asymptomatic nature, chlamydia is known as a “silent” infection.

If symptoms do occur, it can often be weeks after the initial exposure.

Symptoms vary based on where the infection is located:

Cervix (chlamydial cervicitis)

Vaginal discharge
Burning sensation when urinating
Pain during sex
Abdominal pain

Penis (male chlamydial urethritis)

Watery discharge from the penis
Burning sensation when urinating
Testicular pain, tenderness, and swelling

Throat (pharyngeal chlamydia)

Sore throat
Pain the mouth
Redness in the mouth or throat
Mouth sores
Sores around the lips
Fever

Eyes (chlamydial conjunctivitis)

Eye discharge
Red, itchy, or swollen eyes
Sensitivity to light

Rectum

Rectal pain
Rectal discharge
Rectal bleeding

Testing

Lab tests such as nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and cell cultures can diagnose chlamydia.

Your doctor or healthcare provider may perform one of the following tests:

Swab: Using a cotton round or stick to take a sample of tissue or fluid from the vagina or cervix for women or from the urethra for men

Urine test: Peeing in a cup to collect a urine sample to be tested

Many different providers—including family planning centers, private doctors’ offices, STI clinics, hospital clinics, and health departments—typically provide testing for chlamydia and other STDs, so explore your options and pick what is most comfortable and convenient for you.

Whether or not you were exposed to chlamydia or think you may have been, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual screenings for:

Sexually active women younger than 25
Women 25 and older with new or multiple sex partners
Women 25 and older whose sex partner has a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
Sexually active men who have sex with men
People who are HIV-positive

How long does it take to show up on a test?

Test result times vary depending on what type of test you get and where the test is performed.

The average result times for each type of test are:

Swab test results: 2-3 days to show a positive or negative result

Urine test results: 2-5 days to show a positive or negative result

Retesting for chlamydia

Chlamydia can resist treatment and it’s also possible to be infected, cure the infection, and then be infected again.

For these reasons, it’s best to retest for chlamydia three months after treatment.

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Complications

Chlamydial infections can lead to serious health problems with both short- and long-term consequences when unnoticed and untreated:

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. This can permanently damage the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus.

Pregnant women can pass chlamydia to their baby, who may develop an eye infection or pneumonia.

Inflammation near the testicles in men. Called epididymis, this causes pain and swelling that, if left untreated, could affect fertility.

Sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA). This condition causes the joints, eyes, or urethra to become inflamed and is typically more common in men.

Treatment

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection and can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

Your doctor may prescribe one of the following medications:

Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Doxycycline (Oracea)
Erythromycin (Erygel)
Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
Ofloxacin (Floxin)

Follow the dosage instructions closely and take the full course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms go away sooner.

If you stop taking antibiotics early, the infection may come back.

To prevent the spread of chlamydia, wait to have any sexual contact until seven days after taking the single dose of antibiotics or after completion of all seven days of the multi-dose medication.

Because it is somewhat common to get a repeat infection of chlamydia, it’s a good idea to be tested for it again about three months after treatment.

When to See a Doctor

If you are sexually active and displaying symptoms of chlamydia, or you believe you were exposed to the bacterial infection through a sexual partner, see a doctor for evaluation and treatment as soon as possible.

The CDC advises sexually active women under 25 years old get screened for chlamydia every year. It’s also a good idea to be tested when beginning a sexual relationship with a new partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can chlamydia be detected right away?

Chlamydia is often asymptomatic, meaning you may not experience symptoms. Regular testing is important to detect the infection. Most test results are delivered within 2-5 days.

Can chlamydia lay dormant?

Yes, chlamydia can lie dormant in the body, causing a low-grade infection without symptoms.

K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.

K Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

Chlamydia – CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed). (2021).
https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia-detailed.htm
Chlamydia in Teens. (n.d.).
https://childrensnational.org/visit/conditions-and-treatments/infectious-diseases/sexually-transmitted-infections/chlamydia
Overview: Chlamydia. (2018).
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/

How Long Can Chlamydia Lay Dormant?

Published: 22 February 2021
Last updated: 21 April 2022
Category: Chlamydia
Written by: Dr Bani

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the UK. In 2018 alone, 49% of all new diagnoses of STDs were Chlamydia. A possible reason for this is that the Chlamydia can lay dormant for many years without the carrier knowing. In this blog, we will look at how Chlamydia is transmitted, and how to prevent and treat it.

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

Whilst Chlamydia often lays dormant in many people, the disease may flare up and cause symptoms due to a change in the immune system such as a cold or flu. Symptoms include:

Unusual discharge from bottom, vagina or penis
Testicle pain and swelling
Pain when urinating
Bleeding after sex or spotting between periods for women
Pain in the tummy

However, STDs such as Chlamydia can often be asymptomatic. It is reported that nearly 75% of women and 50% of men are asymptomatic when infected with Chlamydia. To reduce the risk of transmission, it is important to regularly test for STDs, particularly if you have multiple sexual partners. Your Sexual Health offers a wide variety of tests that can be conducted in the privacy of your own home.

Does chlamydia go away on its own?

It is highly unlikely that Chlamydia will go away on its own without treatment, which is why it is so important to be tested regularly and be treated swiftly if positive. Whilst it has been known for some infected with Chlamydia to recover without treatment, this is uncommon and very risky as untreated Chlamydia may lead to more severe health problems.

How can you treat chlamydia?

Following a positive test, the most common and effective treatment for Chlamydia is a course of antibiotics, usually over the period of one week. You should abstain for sexual activity for one week following a successful course of antibiotics and ensure that regular sexual partners, as well as previous partners, are informed and tested.

Can you pass chlamydia on without symptoms?

Even if you are asymptomatic with Chlamydia, it is still possible to pass on the disease. The bacterial infection transmits via bodily fluids during sexual activity, therefore it is vitally important to practise safe sex and be tested regularly to ensure that you are clean of sexually transmitted infections. Visit our website to learn more about home testing.

What happens if you don’t get treatment for chlamydia?

Although you may not present with symptoms, you may develop serious health problems if Chlamydia is left untreated. Potential health problems may include:

Infertility
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Inflammation
Infections
Pregnancy complications
Reactive Arthritis

How to know if you have chlamydia

Many STIs such as Chlamydia can be asymptomatic which makes it difficult to know if you are infected. The only way to find out if you have an STI is to be tested regularly, especially before engaging with a new sexual partner. . At Your Sexual Health, there is a wide range of sexual health tests including Chlamydia tests that can help you determine if you have any sexually transmitted infections. Getting tested is vitally important to ensure the health of both yourself and your partner(s).

CHLAMYDIOSIS

CHLAMYDIOSIS

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a predominantly sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) that can infect both men and women. It can cause serious harm to the female reproductive system, which can subsequently make it difficult or impossible for a woman to become pregnant. According to WHO, urogenital chlamydia is one of the most common diseases among STIs.

The causative agent of the disease is chlamydia, an intracellular parasite that, in its cycle of development, resembles both a virus and a bacterium. The incubation period for the development of chlamydia is from 5-7 days to 3-6 weeks (average 20-30 days)

How is chlamydia transmitted?

1. Sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. The probability of transmission during a single sexual intercourse is 68% from an infected woman to a man and 25% from an infected man to a woman.

2. Vertical - infection of newborns (conjunctivitis or pneumonia) during childbirth from a sick mother while passing through the birth canal.

3. The contact-household route of infection with chlamydia is noted much less frequently, through bedding and toiletries, linen, etc. Cases of infection of the mucous membrane of the conjunctiva of the eye are described when transferring secretions from the genital organs with the hands.

What are the manifestations of chlamydial infection?

Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms and many are unaware they have the infection.

Women with symptoms may notice unusual vaginal discharge, burning during urination. In addition, periodic aching pains in the lower abdomen and during intercourse, as well as post-contact spotting, are possible.

Symptoms in men may include: discharge from the penis; burning sensation when urinating; pain and swelling in one or both testicles (although this is less common).

Men and women can also get chlamydia in the rectum. It occurs during anal sex, or by spread from another infected site (such as the vagina). Although these infections often cause no symptoms, they can cause rectal pain, discharge, and bleeding.

How to find out about infection with chlamydia?

Laboratory tests are available to diagnose chlamydia. The most accurate and sensitive is PCR, which makes it possible to detect even a small amount of the pathogen in the test material. For research, scrapings are taken from the cervix and from the urethra, blood, semen, urine.

What are the complications of chlamydial infection?

The initial harm caused by chlamydia often goes unnoticed. However, chlamydia can lead to serious health problems. Urogenital complications of chlamydia in men are chlamydial prostatitis, urethritis, epididymitis.
In women, if untreated, chlamydia causes the development of adhesions, which further leads to the development of infertility, or may cause a potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy. One of the serious complications of chlamydia is urethro-oculo-synovial syndrome, characterized by a triad of clinical manifestations: conjunctivitis, urethritis, arthritis.

Can chlamydia be cured?

Yes, chlamydia can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all the medicines your doctor has prescribed to help you heal your infection. Proper medication will cure the infection and may reduce the chance of complications in the future.

Re-infection with chlamydia often occurs. You should not have sex until you and your partner have completed your treatment. You should be rechecked about a month after the end of treatment, even if your partner has also been treated.

Dermatovenereologist Islyamova R.M.

Chlamydia - an invisible insidious enemy

Urogenital chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease. At least 10-15% of young sexually active people are infected with chlamydia. In Ukraine, chlamydia occurs 2-3 times more often than gonorrhea. Given that chlamydia often occurs without pronounced symptoms, is difficult to diagnose in the laboratory, is poorly treated, and gives many complications, it should be expected that it becomes a threat to life.

The incidence of venereal chlamydia has been officially registered in Ukraine since 1994. The number of newly diagnosed cases is increasing every year. About 100 million people are infected with it every year. Proved: in our country, chlamydia ranks second in the "popularity" of diseases after the flu. It affects half of the men of active sexual age (from 16 years old) and a third of the female population.

Widespread chlamydial infection is largely associated with a chaotic sexual life, frequent change of sexual partners. Having fallen ill at the age of 16-18, until the age of 22-25, many can no longer fully realize their childbearing function, the reason is a long-term chronic inflammatory process, and often with various complications.

Chlamydia is a unique parasite, unlike any other: it lives inside the cells of the mucous membranes. Penetrates the cell like a virus. And then, having its own DNA like a bacterium, it suppresses the cell, takes energy from it and forces it to produce its own kind. The cell dies - it breaks, and new chlamydia come out of it, which attack new cells.

The incubation period for chlamydia is approximately 10-21 days. It should be noted that in 80% of cases, chlamydia occurs without pronounced symptoms or does not manifest itself at all: only 5 out of 100 infected people suspect something is wrong. In the morning there may be glassy discharge from the urethra, discomfort during urination, a slight increase in body temperature. Even without treatment, after a while, the symptoms of the disease disappear.

Chlamydia becomes chronic, "conserved" in the body, waiting for a chance to remind about itself.

The main danger of chlamydia lies in the complications it causes. In men - chronic prostatitis, vesiculitis, infertility, and then impotence.

In women, 87% are lesions of the cervix, precancerous conditions: erosion, cervicitis, dysplasia, and inflammation of the appendages, which in turn leads to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, pathology of fetal development, infection of the newborn. In 68% of cases, chlamydia causes acute urethral syndrome - frequent painful urination.

In addition to various complications of the genital organs, chlamydia causes damage to other organs: eyes (chlamydial conjunctivitis), joints, skin, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, central nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Diagnosis of chlamydia is difficult and expensive. its cost ranges from 50 to 200 hryvnia.

Due to the peculiarities of the development of chlamydia, the treatment is also complex and lengthy. Both partners should be treated. After the end of the course of treatment in 2-3 months, control tests. It is safe to say about chlamydia that it is much easier to avoid than to cure.