How is chlamydia transmitted?
The most common way to become infected is through sex without a condom, when the mucous membranes come into contact with each other. This also applies to anal sex and oral sex. The bacteria only live inside living cells and therefore is not transmitted through handshakes, sauna benches, clothes, towels, or toilets. Having untreated chlamydia during pregnancy can when giving birth put your baby's health at risk.
How can I get tested?
For those with a penis, a urine test is required. For people with a vagina, a swab test is required (and for some counties, a urine test is also available). The test can be taken at home with a chlamydia test kit from klamydia.se if you live in the Västra Götaland region, Västerbotten county, Norrbotten county or Gävleborg county. The test can also be done at a youth clinic, a sexual health clinic or a health center and it is free. It takes about a week to receive the test result.
Ordering via Klamydia.se is an easy and discreet way to do a home test that is analyzed at the same lab as used in regular medical care.
Visit Klamydia.se to order a home test or to read more (external link)
Who can get chlamydia?
Since chlamydia is so common, everyone who has sex without a condom (or internal condom) is at risk of being infected. Chlamydia infection is the most common sexually-transmitted bacterial infection.
Symptoms
Most people who are infected with chlamydia have no symptoms but can still pass the infection on. Symptoms, if present, will occur one to three weeks after the infection and the most common are discharge and burning sensation when urinating. Some may also experience vaginal bleeding. Chlamydia bacteria can also lie dormant for long periods of time and then suddenly cause problems or direct complications.
Infertility and secondary diseases
An untreated chlamydia infection can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which in turn can lead to an ectopic pregnancy or future infertility. If you have a penis you may get epididymitis, prostatitis, urethritis, and possibly decreased fertility. Everyone can get conjunctivitis and arthritis. A pregnant person with a chlamydia infection can infect the child during childbirth, resulting in infection in the baby's eyes and lungs. A child infected with chlamydia in the lungs is at a greater risk for asthma later in life.
Treatment
A chlamydia infection is treated with antibiotics and no post-treatment is needed. Partners must also be tested and treated if necessary. Doctor visits and medications are free.