Which symptoms does chlamydia cause in men?

"Chlamydia can cause unusual discharge in men, but more often remains symptomless. If you think you may be infected, you need to get tested."

Dr Louisa Draper

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Related Medications

Azithromycin

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD). Although it can be easily treated, it often remains symptomless which is why it has been termed as the ‘silent infection’.

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What are common chlamydia symptoms in men?
Chlamydia and epididymitis
How is chlamydia diagnosed in men?
How can I prevent chlamydia?

What are common chlamydia symptoms in men?

It is estimated that around half of all men who get chlamydia don’t notice any symptoms. If there are symptoms, the following are most common:

White, cloudy or watery discharge from the penis;
Noticeable discomfort or pain during urination;
Pain in the testicles;

The symptoms listed above occur only if chlamydia has been caught through unprotected vaginal or anal sex.

Chlamydia can also infect the throat and rectum. These are acquired through sexual activities like oral or anal sex with an infected person.

Chlamydia symptoms usually appear between one and three weeks after catching it. Some men experience symptoms much later than the common time period, and again, around half of men who have caught chlamydia don’t experience any symptoms.

Chlamydia and epididymitis

Epididymitis is an infection of the tube through which your sperm flows out of the testicles. When chlamydia is not treated for a long time, it can spread to this tube and cause an infection. In the long run, this can cause scarring and block the tube, which can lead to male infertility.

Epididymitis can cause the following symptoms:

pain in the pelvic area
fever and chills
pain, pressure or tenderness in the testicles
enlarged lymph nodes
a painful or swollen scrotum

The infection is treated with antibiotics. If you develop epididymitis, your doctor is likely to check whether chlamydia could be the underlying cause.

How is chlamydia diagnosed in men?

The most common way to diagnose male chlamydia is with a urine test. You can get tested at a GUM clinic or use the Superdrug Online Doctor service to get a home chlamydia test kit. Your urine sample will be analysed for chlamydia bacteria and the test is very reliable in detecting the infection.

If you are sexually active and have changing partners, you should get tested for STIs at least once a year.

If you have had anal or oral sex with a partner who could be infected, you need to consider an anal swab test or oral swab test to check whether you have anal or oral chlamydia.

How can I prevent chlamydia?

It is easy to avoid catching the infection - just use a condom every time you have sex. Before you have unprotected sex, make sure both you and your new partner get tested for chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases. Even if neither of you has any symptoms, it is possible that you carry chlamydia or a different STI.

Common misconceptions about chlamydia in men

Myth: Male chlamydia always causes symptoms.

Truth: Chlamydia is often symptomless - this goes for men and women.

Myth: Chlamydia can only make women infertile.

Truth: Chlamydia can also have a negative impact on male fertility, as it can lower the sperm count and damage the quality of the sperm.

Myth: Chlamydia is not very common in men.

Truth: Chlamydia is a very common STI with over 200000 new diagnoses per year (in the UK alone). It is particularly common between the ages of 15 - 24.