Chlamydia Symptoms

Chlamydia is known to be a "silent" disease, as many of the symptoms can go unrecognized or unnoticed for a long period of time, in both women and men. When symptoms do occur, they typically appear within 1-3 weeks of the initial exposure.

In women, the most common Chlamydia symptoms include abnormal vaginal discharge, a burning sensation during urination, lower abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, or bleeding in between menstrual cycles. Chlamydia infections can also be present in the rectum, with symptoms including rectal bleeding or pain, or in the throat, evidenced by painful swallowing.

The most common symptoms reported by men infected with Chlamydia include unusual discharge from the penis or a burning sensation during urination. Rectal symptoms or oral symptoms are the same as those documented for women.

When left untreated, Chlamydia symptoms will worsen, and be likely to cause more serious problems including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), fallopian tube infections, higher likelihood of ectopic pregnancies, and possible infertility. Untreated men will be less likely to experience further complications, though they will continue to spread the disease to other sexual partners.

Awareness of Chlamydia symptoms can help with early detection. Yearly screenings are recommended for sexually active women and men.