Buy Chlamydia Treatment UK | Superdrug Online Doctor

Medication	Pack Size	Price
Antibiotic Tablets	One week course (14 x 100mg capsules)	£17.99

Medication

Pack Size

Price

Antibiotic Tablets

One week course (14 x 100mg capsules)

£17.99

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About Chlamydia

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ‘chlamydia trachomatis’. It can infect both men and women, though the symptoms will be slightly different. Many people have no visible symptoms at all, although it can still be harmful and spread to sexual partners.

Chlamydia infects the neck of the womb (cervix) and uterus in women. In men, it can infect the urethra. Chlamydia can also cause infection of the eyes, throat and rectum (bottom).

Most people get infected with chlamydia through vaginal, anal or oral sex.

How common is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the UK, especially in young adults. Recently, about 60% of reported chlamydia cases were found in young people under 25 years. In 2018, around 104,000 men and around 130,000 women were diagnosed with chlamydia.

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

The symptoms of chlamydia are slightly different in men and women.

Some common symptoms of chlamydia in men are:

pain from the end part of your penis
discharge from your penis or bottom
burning pain when you pass urine
painful or swollen testicles

Some common symptoms of chlamydia in women are:

discharge from your vagina
burning pain when passing urine
pain or discomfort in your lower tummy after sex
spotting or bleeding in between your usual monthly periods
bleeding after having sex

About 7 in 10 men and 5 in 10 women infected with chlamydia may be asymptomatic (do not have any chlamydia symptoms). This makes it easier to pass on chlamydia to other sexual partners, as you might be unaware that you have the infection. This will mean you will not get treatment or take precautions against spread.

If you have had unprotected sex with someone who may have chlamydia, you should get tested for chlamydia as soon as possible.

Can chlamydia go away on its own?

No. Chlamydia does not usually go away without treatment, but some people can have chlamydia without noticeable symptoms for weeks or months.

What happens if chlamydia is left untreated?

If you have chlamydia and it is left untreated for a long time, it can cause serious complications.

In men, untreated chlamydia may cause:

reduced fertility
reactive arthritis (painful swollen joints)
an infection (known as epididymo-orchitis) of the testicles and epididymis (tube carrying sperm from the testicles)

Complications of untreated chlamydia in women are:

pelvic inflammatory disease which can cause pain, infertility and increase the risk of having ectopic pregnancies
reactive arthritis (painful swollen joints)
pregnancy complications like miscarriages, premature births and stillbirths

How is chlamydia treated?

The treatment for chlamydia is a course of antibiotics. The most common antibiotics used to treat chlamydia are doxycycline (the first line treatment for most people) and azithromycin.

If you have an increased risk of complications from chlamydia, your doctor may prescribe a longer course of antibiotics.

You may also be prescribed different antibiotic options if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have allergies to some antibiotics.

What is the best antibiotic for chlamydia?

Currently, the first line preferred antibiotic for treating chlamydia is doxycycline 100mg, which you should take twice daily for 7 days. Doxycycline is the most effective antibiotic treatment for chlamydia, and is 95% effective.

While doxycycline is the best option for most people, in some cases it may not be suitable. Doxycycline is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, so you will need a different antibiotic.

Azithromycin is another treatment for chlamydia which used to be the first line but is no longer recommended as the preferred option. The guideline was changed in 2018 because azithromycin was not as effective in treating chlamydia which has spread to the rectum or anal area, but doxycycline was effective in such cases. In addition, the use of single dose azithromycin was causing antibiotic resistance of other sexually transmitted infections.

Is chlamydia treatment the same for men and women?

Yes, the treatment for chlamydia is usually the same for men and women. The exceptions are usually if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or allergic to certain antibiotics.

How does chlamydia treatment work?

Chlamydia treatment works by stopping the bacteria that causes chlamydia from producing an important protein which it needs to multiply. This stops the bacteria from growing and replicating, so your symptoms should improve as your body is cleared of chlamydia.

The first line treatment for chlamydia in the UK is doxycycline. The usual dose is one tablet to be taken twice daily for 7 days. You can swallow doxycycline tablets whole with water and take them with or without food. You should sit up for about 30 minutes after each dose to prevent symptoms of throat irritation or stomach upset.

How effective is chlamydia treatment?

Antibiotics are very effective in treating chlamydia. About 95% of people being treated for chlamydia will be cured if they take the antibiotics correctly as prescribed.

How long does it take for chlamydia to go away after treatment?

Chlamydia infection usually clears after one week of completing your antibiotic treatment. During treatment, you should avoid drinking alcohol as this can reduce how effective the antibiotic is.

You should also avoid having sex (with or without condoms) during treatment as you could still pass on the infection to your partner. It is common for partners to pass chlamydia between one another if they continue to have sex without completing their treatment, causing repeated infections.

How long do chlamydia symptoms last after treatment?

Your chlamydia symptoms should improve after your antibiotics treatment course. If they do not improve, you may need to book for another chlamydia test in the first instance.

When can I have sex again after taking chlamydia treatment?

It takes 1 full week of treatment to be effective. You should avoid any sexual contact, both with or without a condom, for 7 days after starting treatment as you could still be contagious.

How do you know if chlamydia is gone after treatment?

Your chlamydia symptoms should improve within a week of completing your course of antibiotics.

You do not need an immediate follow-up test to check if your chlamydia treatment has worked, as dead chlamydia bacteria may be detected 3 to 5 weeks after treatment, which would give a false positive result. But, if you have a rectal infection, you should have a test after treatment is completed.

If you are under 25 and have tested positive for chlamydia, it is recommended you take a repeat test 3 months after completing your treatment, to check you have not caught chlamydia again.

Can chlamydia come back after treatment?

In some cases, you may test positive for chlamydia again after treatment.

This could happen if you:

had unprotected sex before completing your treatment
did not take your antibiotics correctly

What are the side effects of chlamydia treatment?

While doxycycline is an effective treatment for chlamydia, some people may have side effects when taking this chlamydia treatment.

Some common doxycycline side effects may include:

headaches
low blood pressure
vision problems
increased sensitivity to light (itching, rashes, sunburn after sun exposure)
nausea or being sick (vomiting)
palpitations (increased heartbeat)
shortness of breath

Some uncommon or rare doxycycline side effects may include:

vaginal infection
heartburn
yeast infection in the genital areas
decreased appetite
flushing
anxiety
stomach ulcers
joint or muscle pain

If you have any side effects when taking doxycycline, tell your doctor as soon as possible.

The full list of doxycycline side effects and cautions can be found in the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine package.

When taking doxycycline, you should avoid drinking alcohol as it reduces doxycycline’s effectiveness. You should also avoid sunlight as increased sensitivity to light has been reported as a side effect of doxycycline.

You should stop taking doxycycline and seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of the following rare but severe side effects, or symptoms of an allergic reaction:

Ringing in your ear (tinnitus)
Fever, swollen lymph nodes or skin rash (could be symptoms of a life-threatening drug reaction known as DRESS - Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms)
Symptoms of an allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pain, swollen face, lips, mouth, hand or feet

Sources

Chlamydia complications (2021) NHS [accessed 21 June 2021]
Chlamydia symptoms (2021) NHS [accessed 21 June 2021]
Chlamydia treatment (2021) NHS [accessed 22 June 2021]
Chlamydia - uncomplicated genital NICE [accessed 22 June 2021]
Chlamydia (2017) Patient Info [accessed 21 June 2021]
Doxycycline 100 mg (2021) EMC [accessed 21 June 2021]
Health matters - preventing STIs (2019) GOV.UK [accessed 21 June 2021]
National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) (2021) GOV.UK [accessed 21 June 2021]

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Chlamydia Treatment

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