How is chlamydia treated?
Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. The infection doesn't cause long-term problems if it's treated early. But untreated chlamydia can lead to many complications.
Treatment is recommended for:
- People who have positive chlamydia tests.
- Sex partners within the last 60 days of people diagnosed with chlamydia—even if they don't have symptoms.
- Newborns of women who have chlamydia at the time of delivery.
It's important to not have sex for 7 days after you start treatment for chlamydia.
If you are treated for chlamydia and your sex partner isn't, you will probably get infected again. Encourage your partner to get treated. Use condoms to lower the chance of reinfection.
Some people who have chlamydia may also have gonorrhea. In that case, treatment includes antibiotics that kill both chlamydia and gonorrhea.
You can get infected again. If you still have symptoms after treatment, they are probably from another chlamydia infection rather than from a failed treatment. To prevent reinfection, sex partners need to be checked and treated.
Some doctors recommend retesting 3 to 12 months after treatment. This can reduce the risk of complications from reinfection.