In Women

• You may notice that you have an unusual vaginal discharge. This may be heavier that you might normally have
• You may have unusual bleeding between periods or after sex
  
• You might need to wee more often and it might sting as well
• Sex maybe painful for you
• You may have lower tummy pain

In men

• You may have a discharge from the end of your penis
• It may hurt or sting when you have a wee
• Your penis might feel itchy
• You may notice that your testicles are feeling achy and swollen

Most of you will not have any of these symptoms but if you do, make an appointment to see your doctor or Genitournary clinic (01582 891221) to be checked out.

The answer is yes!

• If you have ever been sexually active
• Even if you don’t think you have it

We would like to test all young people 24 and under who have ever had sex and have no signs or symptoms of the infection.

About the test
You can get a free, confidential test from the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Chlamydia Service. You do not have to see a doctor or nurse to have the test if you do not want to-you can take the test yourself. If there is nowhere close to you that offers testing, you can ring and we will send you a testing pack. You can also request a testing kit on this website. All you have to do once you have done your test is pop it in the post in the envelope supplied; it’s as simple as that.

We understand it can be difficult knowing how to talk about having chlamydia, but if you don’t tell your partner(s) you are at risk of:

• Re infection if you have sex, including oral sex with an untreated partner
• Having serious health problems from untreated chlamydia such as, lower tummy pain, testicular pain and swelling, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and Reiter’s syndrome
• Spreading the infection onto future sexual partners

Unless you tell your partner about their need to attend for testing and antibiotic treatment they may never know they have an infection.

• 70 – 80% of women have no symptoms with chlamydia
• 60% of men don’t get symptoms either

Remember it is not about blame but about looking after each other!

Once you have told your partner it is their responsibility to seek help and your responsibility to protect yourself from re-infection.

Informing current and recent ex-partners is important

• It is being responsible and mature
• It will help to cut down the number of people with chlamydia and therefore reduce the chances of you getting it again in the future

If you need help on how to tell your partner please ask to speak to a Health advisor. If you cannot face informing them yourself the Health advisor can arrange to do this for you. This will be done confidentially and your name will not be mentioned.

Remember the correct & consistent use of condoms will help protect you from chlamydia again in the future.

The treatment is a simple course of antibiotics, which are usually 4 tablets taken at the same time.

If you are pregnant or not able to take these tablets, you may be given a longer course of antibiotics
You do not have to pay for the treatment but it is important that you take all your tablets to get rid of the infection.

It is important not to get reinfected . To do this you should make sure:

• That your partner is treated
• That you do not have sex (oral, vaginal or anal) until both you and your partner have been treated

Always use a condom!

What happens if I have chlamydia and don’t get treated?
Without proper treatment the infection can spread to other parts of the body causing damage and serious long-term complications

• In women
  Chlamydia can spread to other reproductive organs causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This can lead to lower tummy pain, blocked fallopian tubes, infertility and ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the womb)
• In men
  Chlamydia can lead to a painful infection int the testicles and possibly reduced fertility. It is thought that in some men it might cause the prostate to become inflamed
• In men and women
  Inflammation or swelling of the joints can occur. This is sometimes accompanied by inflammation of the urethra (tube from the bladder to the outside of the body) and the eye, when it is known as Reiter’s syndrome. This is rare and occurs more in men than in women.

How could you get chlamydia?
You can get chlamydia by having sex with someone who has chlamydia. This could have been recently or many months, even years later - you cannot tell who has chlamydia just by looking at them!

It can be spread through vaginal, anal, oral sex or if you share sex toys.

You can also pass the infection to the eyes if it's on someones hands.

A mother can pass it onto her baby at birth.

How will I know if Chlamydia has affected my fertility?
Chlamydia is just one of many factors that can affect your fertility. However, the more episodes of infection a person has, the more likely it is to cause complications that can affect fertility. If you have had chlamydia you will not normally be offered any routine tests to see if you are fertile unless you and your partner find that you have difficulty getting pregnant. If you are concerned, talk to your GP or practice nurse.

What happens if I get Chlamydia when I’m pregnant?
Chlamydia may be linked to early miscarriage or premature birth of the baby. It can be passed to the baby during the birth and (less commonly) before the baby is born. This can cause inflammation and discharge from the baby’s eye (conjunctivitis) and pneumonia.

Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics when you are pregnant and when you are breastfeeding - the antibiotics won’t harm the baby - but do tell the doctor or nurse that you are pregnant to make sure the correct type of antibiotic is prescribed. You will also need to return for a repeat test.

Will I know how long I have had the infection?
A positive test result does not give any indication of the length of time someone has been infected for. You may not have any symptoms at all or they may appear a long time after you have been exposed to chlamydia. You might not know whether you have caught it from your current or a previous sexual partner. These doubts can be hard to handle. Some people feel upset or angry when they have an STI and find it difficult to talk to their partner or friends. Don’t be afraid to talk about how you feel with the staff at the clinic.

What if I don’t want to take the test?
This is not a problem. You have every right to refuse to take part in any programme. It will not affect the way you are looked after in the future. If you change your mind, you are welcome to come for a test at any time.

Will the antibiotics clear the infection completely?
Yes, providing you follow the instructions you are given.

Will I ever need to have another test?
You should have another test if you or your partner have penetrative sex with someone else. We don’t mind how often you have a test.

Who can I talk to if I’m worried?
The Chlamydia Screening Office: 01582 891221