Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection that often causes no symptoms and is cured with a short course of antibiotics.
Symptoms
- Often no symptoms at all, in men or women
- Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
- Burning or pain when urinating
- Pelvic or lower abdominal pain in women
- Testicular pain or swelling in men
- Bleeding between periods or after sex
Causes and how it spreads
Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected partner. Because most infections are silent, it is commonly passed on by people who have no idea they carry it. It can also be passed from mother to baby at birth.
How PVT tests for it
PVT tests for chlamydia with a urine sample or a swab, analysed by molecular (NAAT) testing at Lancet. Testing is reliable from about two weeks after exposure. Your doctor will advise whether urine, a self-taken swab or a clinician-taken swab suits your situation.
Treatment
Chlamydia is cured with a short course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Current or recent partners should be treated at the same time so the infection does not pass back and forth. A recheck at three months confirms you remain clear, because reinfection is common.
When to see a doctor
Test if a partner has been diagnosed, if you have any of the symptoms above, after unprotected sex with a new partner, or simply as part of a routine screen. Untreated chlamydia can affect fertility in women and cause complications in men, so silent does not mean harmless.
Medically reviewed by Dr D. Moodley [DOCTOR_NAME_PLACEHOLDER], HPCSA [HPCSA_NUMBER_PLACEHOLDER]. Last reviewed 1 July 2026.
Questions about Chlamydia
Yes, and most people do. Around 7 in 10 women and half of men with chlamydia notice nothing at all. That is why routine screening matters: the infection can quietly cause pelvic inflammation and fertility problems while producing no symptoms.
Molecular testing is reliable from about two weeks after exposure. If you test earlier, a negative result may need repeating. Your doctor will map your exposure date to the right testing window.
Yes. Current partners, and usually anyone from the last few months, should be tested and treated even if they feel fine. Treating only one person in a couple almost guarantees reinfection.
Yes. A short course of the correct antibiotic cures chlamydia. A recheck at three months confirms you are still clear, since reinfection from an untreated partner is the most common reason it comes back.
Book a private consult
Most patients are seen within the week at Milnerton or Table View. You can book by WhatsApp without saying why you are coming in.
R650 private doctor consult, paid upfront by cash or card. It covers the assessment, test selection, explanation of your first results, and a script where clinically appropriate. Lab tests are billed separately by the blood lab (Lancet). Medical aid is optional: you claim back yourself if you have it.