While a chlamydia diagnosis may be concerning and difficult to receive, the right antibiotics can treat and cure it.
In this article, learn more about chlamydia and how it is cured.
Chlamydia Treatment
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. The types of antibiotics most often used to treat chlamydia include:
Doxycycline: Seven-day course of twice-daily 100 milligrams (mg) oral tabletsAzithromycin: Single dose of 1,000 mg (1 gram) oral tabletLevofloxacin: Seven-day course of once-daily 500 mg oral tablets
It is essential to take all medication exactly as prescribed for optimal effectiveness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people of all genders and sexual orientations be retested three months after treatment.
Where to Get Free Treatment
You will need a prescription from a healthcare provider to treat chlamydia. If you feel uncomfortable going to your primary healthcare provider or have concerns about cost or insurance coverage, you may be able to get free treatment for chlamydia and other STIs.
Possible sources for free chlamydia treatment include:
Local health department STI clinicsFamily planning clinics, such as Planned ParenthoodUrgent careStudent health centers
You can also find a clinic using GetTested and ask if they offer treatment for STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Chlamydia Prognosis
Overall, antibiotic treatment for chlamydia has a 95% cure rate for the first course.
Recently, however, researchers have become more concerned about antibiotic resistance (when bacteria develop a way to survive medications meant to kill them). There is increasing research on azithromycin treatment failure, particularly for rectal (anal) infections.
In several reviews, rectal chlamydia infection was common (33% to 83%) in women with urogenital chlamydia infection (infection in the female genital tract) who had no symptoms of rectal chlamydia and didn’t report having had anal sex. Because of azithromycin’s potential failure to treat rectal infections, doxycycline continues to be the first-line treatment option for chlamydia.
Complications
Chlamydia infection can lead to reproductive health complications if left untreated or infected multiple times. Since most people with chlamydia do not have symptoms, it is vital to get tested if you are at risk of infection. The CDC also recommends that women under age 25 get screened for chlamydia annually, even if they have no symptoms or risk factors.
Some chlamydia complications include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy (a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus), and female infertility.
A baby may also get chlamydia as they pass through the birth canal if the birthing parent has a chlamydia infection. Complications of infant chlamydia can include conjunctivitis (pink eye) and pneumonia.
When Can You Have Sex Again?
The CDC recommends abstaining from sex during chlamydia treatment. The time you can’t have sex depends on which antibiotic you take. Recommendations include the following:
Single-dose antibiotics: No sex for seven days after the doseSeven-day course of antibiotics: No sex throughout the entire course
Discuss with your healthcare provider which dose would be best for you.
Summary
Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs and is highly curable. A course of the right antibiotics, taken exactly as prescribed, generally has a 95% effectiveness rate. It is important to treat chlamydia to prevent further infections or serious health complications and prevent spreading it to others.
Some monogamous partners may be worried about being accused of cheating. This is a normal concern. However, you can inform your partner that because chlamydia is so often asymptomatic (without symptoms), you could have had the infection for months or years before your relationship began; it does not necessarily indicate infidelity.
A Word From Verywell
If you test positive for chlamydia, you probably have dozens of questions and concerns running through your mind, including whether it’s curable. As long as you receive the proper antibiotic treatment and take all your medication as prescribed, chlamydia is highly curable. To ensure you are cured, you should retest for chlamydia three months after treatment.
