Reducing Your Risk of Chlamydia

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MD

En Español (Spanish Version)

You can prevent chlamydia by:

Abstaining from sex.
Having a mutually monogamous, lifelong relationship.

You can reduce your risk of acquiring STDs or developing their long-term consequences by taking the following measures:

Always use a latex condom throughout sexual activity. Follow directions for proper use.
Get checked regularly for sexually transmitted infections, especially if you are under the age of 25 or have more than one sexual partner.
Get immunization for preventable sexually transmitted infections. There is no vaccine for chlamydia at this time.

If you already have chlamydia, you can prevent its transmission by:

Making sure that all sexual partners are tested and treated.
Refraining from sexual activity until at least seven days after your infection is treated

You can reduce your risk of getting infected again by helping your partner to get tested and treated.

If you are pregnant, regular prenatal check-ups, including testing for STDs, is also important. Every newborn is routinely treated to prevent neonatal eye infection from either chlamydia or gonorrhea.

REFERENCES:

Chlamydia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/default.htm. Updated April 30, 2013. Accessed May 16, 2013.

Chlamydia genital infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated March 13, 2013. Accessed May 16, 2013.

Chlamydia fact sheet. US Department of Health and Human Services Women's Health website. Available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/. Updated July 8, 2011. Accessed May 16, 2013.

Golden MR, Whittington WL, Handsfield HH, et al. Effect of expedited treatment of sex partners on recurrent or persistent gonorrhea or chlamydial infection. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:676-685.

Workowski KA, Berman S, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2010. MMWR. 2010;59(No. RR-12):1-110.

2/15/2007 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Trelle S, Shang A, Nartey L, Cassell JA, Low N. Improved effectiveness of partner notification for patients with sexually transmitted infections: systematic review. BMJ. 2007;334(7589):354.

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Last reviewed May 2013 by Brian Randall, MD
Last Updated: 5/16/2013

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