Chlamydia: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Australia

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Australia. It’s often called the “silent” STI because most people who have it don’t notice any symptoms. It’s easy to test for with a urine sample or swab, and it’s treated with a short course of antibiotics, but left untreated it can cause serious problems, including infertility.

Here’s what to look out for, how testing and treatment work, and how to protect yourself and your partners.

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It’s passed on through vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom, and can infect the cervix, urethra (the tube you wee through), rectum, throat and eyes. It can also be passed from a pregnant person to their baby during birth.

It’s very common, especially in younger people. There were more than 100,000 diagnoses in Australia in 2024, and about half were in people aged 20 to 29, according to the Kirby Institute.

Why is it called the “silent” infection?

Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, so they don’t know they need treatment and can pass it on without realising. That’s why regular testing is recommended even if you feel completely well.

Symptoms of chlamydia

When symptoms do appear, they usually start one to three weeks after contact, and can include:

In people with a vagina

• pain or burning when weeing
• a change in vaginal discharge
• bleeding between periods or after sex
• pain during sex
• pain low in the tummy or pelvis

In people with a penis

• pain or burning when weeing
• a clear or cloudy discharge from the penis
• pain or swelling in the testicles

Other sites

Infection in the rectum may cause discomfort, discharge or bleeding, although it often causes no symptoms. Throat infection rarely causes symptoms. Chlamydia can also cause an eye infection (conjunctivitis).

What happens if chlamydia isn’t treated?

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): infection spreading to the uterus and fallopian tubes, which can cause long-term pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
• Epididymo-orchitis: painful swelling of the testicles and the tubes that carry sperm.
• Reactive arthritis: joint pain and swelling, sometimes with eye inflammation.
• Pregnancy and newborns: chlamydia can be passed to a baby during birth, causing eye or lung infections.

Testing and treating early helps prevent these complications.

Who should get tested?

healthdirect recommends a chlamydia and STI check at least once a year if you’re sexually active and under 30. You should also get tested if:

• you have a new sexual partner
• a partner tells you they have chlamydia or another STI
• you have any symptoms
• you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy
• you’re a man who has sex with men (testing up to every three months may be recommended)

How is chlamydia tested?

Testing is simple. Depending on the type of sex you’ve had, your doctor may ask for:

• a urine sample (ideally at least an hour after you last weed)
• a vaginal swab, which you can usually collect yourself
• a throat or anal swab

A blood test can’t detect chlamydia. Your doctor will usually test for gonorrhoea at the same time, and may suggest blood tests for syphilis and HIV. For more on what a check involves, see how telehealth makes STI testing easier.

Treatment

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe treatment if clinically appropriate, based on current Australian guidelines and where the infection is. Take the full course, even if any symptoms go away.

While you’re being treated:

• avoid sex, even with a condom, until 7 days after starting treatment, or until you’ve finished treatment and any symptoms have gone, whichever is later
• avoid sex with any partners from the past six months until they’ve been tested and treated, so you don’t get reinfected
• have a repeat test three months after treatment, because reinfection is common

Telling your partners

Letting recent partners know means they can get tested and treated too, and protects you from getting chlamydia again. It can feel awkward, but most people appreciate being told. Your doctor can help, and the Let Them Know service, run by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, lets you send an anonymous text or email to partners.

How to reduce your risk

• Use condoms or dams for vaginal, anal and oral sex.
• Get tested regularly and with each new partner.
• Talk with partners about testing before having sex without condoms.

When to get urgent help

Go to an emergency department or call 000 if you have:

• severe pain in your lower tummy or pelvis, especially with a fever
• sudden, severe pain or swelling in a testicle
• pain in the tummy or shoulder tip with a missed period or a positive pregnancy test, which could be a sign of ectopic pregnancy

See a GP in person if you have pelvic pain, pain during sex or testicular pain, as you may need an examination.

How Teldoc can help

Our AHPRA-registered GPs can assess you by phone or video, 7 days a week from 9 am to 7 pm (Sydney time), and most patients are seen within 15 minutes. Your doctor can send an electronic pathology request for testing, prescribe treatment if clinically appropriate with an eScript sent to your phone, and help with partner notification. Learn more about our online chlamydia testing and treatment.

Sexual health consultations, including STI testing and treatment, are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. See our fees page for details. Our sister service STI Doctor also focuses only on STI testing and treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Can chlamydia go away on its own?

It sometimes clears without treatment, but this can take months, and it can cause damage in the meantime. Anyone with chlamydia should be treated, and partners should be tested.

How soon after sex can I test for chlamydia?

A test can usually detect chlamydia from about one to two weeks after contact. If you test sooner, your doctor may suggest repeating it later.

Can I get chlamydia again?

Yes. Having chlamydia once doesn’t make you immune. That’s why a repeat test three months after treatment is recommended, and why partners need to be treated.

Does chlamydia cause infertility?

Untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which can damage the fallopian tubes and affect fertility. Testing and treating early helps prevent this.

Can I get tested for chlamydia online?

Yes. A GP can assess you by phone or video and send you a pathology request for a urine test or swab at a local collection centre.

This article is general health information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your own doctor. If you’re worried about your health, speak to a GP. In an emergency, call 000.

Medically reviewed by Dr Vafa Derakshan (MBBS, FRACGP), September 2026