Chlamydia symptoms
Most chlamydia infections cause no symptoms. When they do, the symptoms overlap heavily with gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and non-infectious causes, so they cannot identify which infection you have.
Diagnik Health Library · Updated
Possible symptoms with a vagina
- Unusual discharge, or a change in colour or smell.
- Burning when urinating.
- Pelvic or lower-abdominal pain, or pain during sex.
- Bleeding between periods or after sex.
Possible symptoms with a penis
- Discharge from the penis.
- Burning when urinating.
- Pain or swelling in one or both testicles.
Why symptoms cannot name the infection
Discharge and burning are shared by several infections and by conditions that are not sexually transmitted at all, such as bacterial vaginosis or a urinary tract infection. A test that covers chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis together is a more useful answer than guessing.
Tests mentioned in this guide
Frequently asked questions
- How long after exposure do chlamydia symptoms appear?
- When symptoms appear at all, they usually start one to three weeks after exposure — but most people never develop any.
- Can I tell chlamydia and gonorrhea apart from symptoms?
- No. Their symptoms overlap almost completely, so testing is the only way to know.
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Educational information only, not a medical diagnosis or treatment advice. Screening results always need confirmation by a clinician.
This guide is general health information about screening tests. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace care from a clinician. See our medical disclaimer.