Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK, especially amongst people under 25 years old.
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, which is simple and painless to test for and can be treated with antibiotics.
If you have chlamydia, you will probably not have any signs or symptoms.
If you do get symptoms, these usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after having vaginal, oral or anal unprotected sex (without a condom) with someone who has chlamydia.
If left untreated chlamydia can cause serious problems, particularly in young women and other people with a womb or ovaries. Therefore, if you have symptoms you should make an appointment at your local sexual health service or your GP.
You can find out more on the NHS website.
Chlamydia bacteria are usually spread through sex or contact with infected genital fluids (semen or vaginal fluid).
You can get chlamydia through: vaginal, oral or anal sex without a condom, sharing sex toys, genital contact and semen or vaginal fluid getting in your eye.
Anyone who’s sexually active can get chlamydia and pass it on. You don’t need to have lots of sexual partners.
Chlamydia testing is simple, painless, free and confidential. You can do the test yourself without a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.
The National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) is changing to focus on reducing the reproductive harm of untreated infection in sexually active under 25 year olds.
NCSP tests are routinely being offered to women, other people with a womb or ovaries including transgender men, non-binary people assigned female at birth and intersex people with a womb or ovaries.
Everyone can still access chlamydia testing, but access to online chlamydia postal testing kits via the NCSP is changing.
All young people (aged 16 to 24) can order a free chlamydia postal testing kit from the Terrence Higgins Trust (NCSP) or collect a free chlamydia postal kit at a participating Pickup Point.
Anyone aged 25 and over, can order a free chlamydia postal testing kit from iCaSH Express Test.
All young people (aged 13 to 15) can have a chlamydia test at an iCaSH clinic.
Young women and other people with a womb or ovaries (aged 16 to 24) can order a free chlamydia postal testing kit from the Terrence Higgins Trust (NCSP).
Young men and other people with a penis or external genitals (aged 16 to 24), and anyone aged 25 and over, can order a free chlamydia postal testing kit from iCaSH Express Test.
All young people (aged 16 to 24) can collect a free chlamydia postal kit at a participating Pickup Point.
All young people (aged 13 to 15) can have a chlamydia test at an iCaSH clinic.
You may be eligible to order a free chlamydia postal testing kit from freetest.me. You can also ask for a test at your GP or local sexual health clinic.
Using condoms consistently and correctly helps protect against chlamydia other STIs (such as gonorrhoea and syphilis), HIV and unintended pregnancies.
Regular testing for HIV and STIs is essential for good sexual health and everyone should have a STI screen, including a HIV test, annually if having condomless sex with new or casual partners.
You can find out more about STIs, HIV and sexual health on Terrence Higgins Trust’s website.
