Chlamydia 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 include:
- Abnormal vaginal discharge, which may have a strong smell. Women may have a thick, white, or cloudy discharge from the vagina.
- Painful urination: A burning sensation when urinating is a common symptom of chlamydia.
- Painful intercourse: Some women may experience pain or discomfort during sex as a result of chlamydia.
- Abdominal pain: Women may experience abdominal pain or tenderness as a result of chlamydia.
If the infection spreads, you might get lower abdominal pain, pain during sex, nausea, or fever.
Symptoms in men include:
- Discharge from your penis: Men may have a clear or cloudy discharge from the penis.
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Burning or itching around the opening of your penis
- Pain and swelling in one or both testicles (although this is less common)
- Rectal pain or discharge (in men who have sex with men): Men who have sex with men may experience rectal pain or discharge as a result of chlamydia.
Symptoms in both men and women include:
- If the chlamydia infects the rectum (in men or women), it can cause rectal pain, discharge, and/or bleeding.
- Eye infection (conjunctivitis): Chlamydia can cause an eye infection called conjunctivitis, which can cause redness, itching, and discharge from the eyes.
It’s worth noting that these symptoms can be caused by other conditions, so it is important to get tested if you suspect you have been exposed to chlamydia or if you experience any of these symptoms. Additionally, if left untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women and epididymitis in men.