Patient education: Chlamydia and gonorrhea (The Basics)

What are chlamydia and gonorrhea? — 

These are 2 different infections you can catch during sex. They cause similar symptoms.

These infections can affect the:

●Sex organs (figure 1 and figure 2)

●Urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body)

●Throat

●Rectum or anus (especially in males who have sex with males)

Infections you can catch during sex are called "sexually transmitted infections."

What are the symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea? — 

These infections often cause no symptoms. But when they do, the symptoms are different for males than for females.

●In females, the symptoms of both infections include:

•Vaginal discharge or itching

•Abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting

•Belly pain

•Pain during sex

•Burning or pain during urination

●In males, the symptoms of both infections include:

•Burning or pain during urination

•Discharge from the penis

•Pain, swelling, or tenderness of the testicles

In men who have sex with men, both infections can also cause rectal pain, discharge, and bleeding.

Are there tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea? — 

Yes. Your doctor or nurse can test you for these infections using a:

●Urine sample

●Sample from inside your vagina (if you have a vagina)

Your doctor or nurse might also take a sample from your throat or rectum, if those areas might be infected.

You can also buy test kits that let you collect a sample at home. You then send the sample to a lab for testing. These tests are not always accurate. If you use a home test and get a positive or unclear result, tell your doctor or nurse. You should also tell them if you get a negative result but still think you might have chlamydia or gonorrhea.

How are chlamydia and gonorrhea treated? — 

The main treatment for both infections is antibiotics:

●The antibiotics for gonorrhea come in a single shot.

●The antibiotic for chlamydia comes in a pill. Treatment usually involves taking a medicine for a whole week. In some cases, treatment can be with a single pill you take once, but this might not work as well. No matter what, take all the pills your doctor or nurse prescribes. Otherwise, the infection might not be treated completely.

If you have chlamydia or gonorrhea, tell the person you last had sex with, and anyone you have had sex with in the past 2 to 3 months. They might also be infected (even if they have no symptoms) and need treatment.

Many people with chlamydia or gonorrhea get the infection again after treatment. After getting treated, you should get tested again a few months later, even if you have no symptoms.

What happens if I don't get treated? — 

Leaving chlamydia or gonorrhea untreated can cause long-term problems for both males and females. In females, it can lead to a problem called "pelvic inflammatory disease," or "PID." PID can cause pain and make it hard to get pregnant later. In all people, leaving gonorrhea untreated can lead to joint infections and arthritis. It can also increase the risk of becoming infected with HIV.

Can chlamydia and gonorrhea be prevented? — 

You can reduce your chances of getting chlamydia or gonorrhea by:

●Using a latex condom correctly every time you have sex (figure 3)

●Avoiding sex when you or your partner has any symptoms that could be caused by an infection (such as itching, discharge, or pain with urination)

●Not having sex

Some people can take an antibiotic pill after sex to help lower their risk of getting chlamydia and gonorrhea. Doctors call this "post-exposure prophylaxis," or "PEP." This has only been studied in specific groups of people, including:

●Men who have sex with men

●Transgender women

If you are in 1 of these groups and at increased risk for chlamydia and gonorrhea, PEP might be an option. Your doctor can talk to you about the medicine and help you decide.

If you decide to take PEP, start taking it as soon as possible after having unprotected sex, and within 3 days. While PEP helps lower your risk of getting chlamydia and gonorrhea, it is still possible to get either infection. The medicine can also cause side effects, such as stomach upset.

What if I want to get pregnant? — 

If you think you might have chlamydia or gonorrhea, it's important to get tested and treated before trying to get pregnant. If you don't get treatment, the infection can cause problems during pregnancy. You could also pass the infection on to your baby during delivery. Babies who get infected often have a problem called "conjunctivitis," which is when their eyes are swollen and red and ooze liquid. They can have other problems, too.

In the US, most newborn babies get antibiotic ointment put into their eyes soon after birth. This helps prevent infection with gonorrhea, but not chlamydia.

When should I see a doctor? — 

Call your doctor or nurse if:

●You have any of the symptoms listed above.

●Any of your sex partners have been diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea.

●You want to learn more about starting PEP to lower the risk of getting chlamydia or gonorrhea.

More on this topic

Patient education: Sexually transmitted infections (The Basics)
Patient education: Pelvic inflammatory disease (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaginal discharge (The Basics)
Patient education: Gonorrhea – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

Patient education: Gonorrhea (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Chlamydia (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaginal discharge in adult women (Beyond the Basics)