Chlamydia treatment

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that’s easy to treat with antibiotics, and the cure rate is very high - up to 95% if you take your tablets correctly.

If you test positive for chlamydia, or your partner has tested positive, they’ll start you on antibiotics – usually doxycycline for one week.

You’ll need to wait at least a week from starting treatment until you have sex again to make sure the infection is cleared from your system.

You can request doxycycline tablets for chlamydia through the Online Doctor website, if either you or your sexual partner have been diagnosed with chlamydia. If you’re experiencing symptoms, you should visit a sexual health or GUM clinic, or go to your GP. 

What antibiotics treat chlamydia?

LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor currently offer a one-week course of doxycycline tablets to treat chlamydia. You must complete the full course of treatment and may need to be tested again to make sure that you are chlamydia-free.

Who can take chlamydia treatment?

Chlamydia treatment (doxycycline) is suitable for adults who have been diagnosed with chlamydia.

Do not take doxycycline if:

• You are allergic to doxycycline or any of the ingredients
• You are pregnant (or trying to become pregnant)
• You are breastfeeding
• You are taking blood clot medication, birth control, penicillin antibiotics or ciclosporin

If any of the above apply to you, our clinicians can prescribe alternative antibiotics. Or you can talk to your GP for other suitable treatments. For more information on doxycycline suitability and its effects on other medications please read the patient information leaflet.

Do I have chlamydia?

If you have the following symptoms, you might have chlamydia:

Symptoms for men

• Testicle discomfort
• Pain when you pee
• Burning or itching in the urethra
• White / cloudy / watery discharge from your penis

Symptoms for women

• Bleeding after sex or between periods
• Pain during sex
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Pain when you pee
• Tummy / pelvic pain

Read our article on chlamydia symptoms for more information.

Can chlamydia be symptomless?

Chlamydia is notorious for its common lack of symptoms. The infection can easily be caught without realising.

At least 50% of men and up to 70% of women don’t notice any symptoms of chlamydia. If you have unprotected sex with a new partner, you should get an STI test regardless of how you might feel.

How do you test for chlamydia?

Chlamydia can be tested for very easily. Because chlamydia is asymptomatic in so many people, it is essential to get screening if you have had a new partner. Chlamydia can be tested using a swab from the vagina or a urine sample, depending on the type of sex you have, a throat or rectal swab may also be recommended.

If you are aged between 15 and 24 it's a good idea to take part in the national chlamydia screening program. Anyone can get a free test kit through their GP surgery, local sexual health or contraception clinic.

How can you get chlamydia?

Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis, it’s a bacterial infection and is carried within genital fluids (vaginal fluid, semen, pre-cum and rectal mucus).

Chlamydia is primarily passed through unprotected sex (sex without a condom).

One of the sexual partners must already have chlamydia to pass on the infection. You can’t catch chlamydia without direct contact with the infection.

Chlamydia can be spread through:

• Vaginal sex
• Anal sex
• Oral sex
• Sharing sex toys
• Genital contact
• Genital fluids coming into contact with the eye

How long does it take for chlamydia to appear on an STI test?

Once you’ve been exposed to chlamydia, it takes two weeks for it to become detectable on an STI test. Do not take a test before this point as it is unlikely that your result will be accurate.