Chlamydia treatment
"Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic that can treat chlamydia effectively. We can only prescribe it if you or your partner have already been diagnosed."
What is chlamydia treatment?
This treatment for chlamydia comes in the form of a doxycycline 100mg pill.
How does it work?
The antibiotic doxycycline can be used to treat chlamydia as it kills the bacteria that cause the infection.
How to use chlamydia treatment
The dose is 1 doxycycline 100mg capsule, twice a day for 7 days. Swallow it with plenty of water or a glass of milk, ideally with food.
Take your evening tablet at least an hour before you go to bed as doxycycline can irritate your digestive system.
You need to finish the 7-day course of treatment to clear your infection and not have sex until after you’ve completed it.
If you’re allergic to doxycycline, we can prescribe an alternative antibiotic as a chlamydia treatment online.
Treatment results
When taken correctly, doxycycline used for treating chlamydia will effectively kill the bacteria causing the infection. However, remember you shouldn’t have sex until you and any sexual partners have completed the course of antibiotics.
While it’s an effective chlamydia infection treatment, this medication is not a vaccination. You’ll need to take precautions to avoid getting infected again. The best way to protect yourself against STIs is to use condoms every time you have sex, whether that’s vaginal, oral, or anal.
What can happen if chlamydia isn’t treated?
Although chlamydia often doesn't cause any symptoms, if left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications. These include:
Pelvic inflammatory disease
If left untreated in women, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. In turn, this can cause ectopic pregnancy, chronic pain, and in some cases even infertility.
Inflammation in the testicles
If left untreated in men, chlamydia can cause inflammation in the testicles (orchitis) and the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles (epididymitis). This can lead to fertility problems in some cases.
SARA
Chlamydia can occasionally cause inflammation of the joints in both men and women, a condition called sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA). While it’s most commonly a problem in knees, other joints can also be affected. Some people who develop SARA will also get conjunctivitis.
Side effects of chlamydia treatment
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects when taking doxycycline as a treatment for chlamydia. The most common side effects include:
- Sensitivity to sunlight (exaggerated sunburn reaction).
- Indigestion and inflammation or ulcers of the gullet (oesophagus).
- Vaginal thrush (in women).
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the doxycycline patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
An effective treatment for the STI chlamydia
You take 1 tablet, twice a day for 7 days
Don’t take this medication if you already have chlamydia symptoms
What is chlamydia treatment?
This treatment for chlamydia comes in the form of a doxycycline 100mg pill.
How does it work?
The antibiotic doxycycline can be used to treat chlamydia as it kills the bacteria that cause the infection.
How to use chlamydia treatment
The dose is 1 doxycycline 100mg capsule, twice a day for 7 days. Swallow it with plenty of water or a glass of milk, ideally with food.
Take your evening tablet at least an hour before you go to bed as doxycycline can irritate your digestive system.
You need to finish the 7-day course of treatment to clear your infection and not have sex until after you’ve completed it.
If you’re allergic to doxycycline, we can prescribe an alternative antibiotic as a chlamydia treatment online.
Treatment results
When taken correctly, doxycycline used for treating chlamydia will effectively kill the bacteria causing the infection. However, remember you shouldn’t have sex until you and any sexual partners have completed the course of antibiotics.
While it’s an effective chlamydia infection treatment, this medication is not a vaccination. You’ll need to take precautions to avoid getting infected again. The best way to protect yourself against STIs is to use condoms every time you have sex, whether that’s vaginal, oral, or anal.
What can happen if chlamydia isn’t treated?
Although chlamydia often doesn't cause any symptoms, if left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications. These include:
Pelvic inflammatory disease
If left untreated in women, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. In turn, this can cause ectopic pregnancy, chronic pain, and in some cases even infertility.
Inflammation in the testicles
If left untreated in men, chlamydia can cause inflammation in the testicles (orchitis) and the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles (epididymitis). This can lead to fertility problems in some cases.
SARA
Chlamydia can occasionally cause inflammation of the joints in both men and women, a condition called sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA). While it’s most commonly a problem in knees, other joints can also be affected. Some people who develop SARA will also get conjunctivitis.
Side effects of chlamydia treatment
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects when taking doxycycline as a treatment for chlamydia. The most common side effects include:
- Sensitivity to sunlight (exaggerated sunburn reaction).
- Indigestion and inflammation or ulcers of the gullet (oesophagus).
- Vaginal thrush (in women).
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the doxycycline patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
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Chlamydia treatment FAQs
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What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), usually passed on through unprotected sex. It’s the most common bacterial STI in the UK and is caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis. More than 64,000 people in England tested positive for chlamydia in 2023.
Most people with chlamydia don't get any symptoms and many may not even know they have it. Which is why the infection spreads so easily.
While chlamydia can easily be treated, you can reduce your risk of infection by using condoms every time you have sex, especially when it’s with a new partner.
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Can you get rid of chlamydia?
As it’s a bacterial infection, you can treat chlamydia easily with a 7-day course of oral antibiotics, as prescribed by one of our clinicians or your doctor.
In the UK, doxycycline is seen as the most effective treatment. If you need to take an alternative medication, the nearest alternative is azithromycin.
Important: don’t have sex during your course of treatment and make sure any sexual partners get tested and treated too.
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How long does chlamydia last?
Chlamydia may not show up in a test for up to 14 days. So if you test too soon after unprotected sex, it could come back negative.
It's very rare for chlamydia to disappear on its own. After a positive test, you need to get treated, or risk complications for your own health and other sexual partners if you pass it on.
As long as there are no complications, it should only take seven days of treatment to cure a chlamydia infection.
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Causes of chlamydia
Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis and is carried in genital fluids (vaginal fluid, semen, pre-cum and rectal mucus). The infection is passed primarily through unprotected sex, where a condom is not used.
You can only catch chlamydia through direct contact with the infection, so one of the sexual partners must already have chlamydia. It’s passed on through:
- Vaginal sex
- Anal sex
- Oral sex
- Sharing sex toys
- Genital contact
- Getting genital fluids in your eye
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What are the symptoms of chlamydia?
With its lack of symptoms, over 50% of men and up to 70% of women aren’t aware when they have chlamydia. This, in turn, makes it easy to catch chlamydia without realising. So, it’s important to get an STI test if you have unprotected sex with a new partner, no matter how you well you may feel.
However, some people do get symptoms when they get chlamydia. These can differ between men and women. Here’s what to look out for:
- A fluid discharge from your penis
- Painful or swollen testicles
- An increase or change in vaginal discharge
- New joint pains
- New eye symptoms like soreness, discharge, or redness
If you have any of these symptoms, you shouldn’t take doxycycline or order it through our service. Instead speak to your doctor or visit your local sexual health clinic.
However, if you’re a woman and an increase or change in vaginal discharge is your only symptom, you can use our service for STI treatment.
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How is chlamydia diagnosed?
As so many people have chlamydia without showing any symptoms, you should always get tested after unprotected sex with a new partner. It’s easy to do.
To test for chlamydia:
- Use a swab from the vagina.
- Pass a urine sample.
- A throat or rectal swab may be recommended after oral or anal sex.
If you’re aged 15-24 you could take part in the national chlamydia screening program. Your GP surgery or local sexual health clinic should offer free test kits.
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How to prevent catching chlamydia
If there’s any doubt that your new sexual partner is free of STIs, always use condoms. For their reassurance and yours, talk about your sexual history with them, including any recent STI tests you’ve taken.
- Be careful to use condoms correctly during vaginal or anal sex.
- Cover the penis with a condom during oral sex.
- You can also use dental dams for oral sex. They’re thin, soft pieces of plastic or latex that you place over the vagina or genital area.
- Always wash sex toys between uses, or cover them with a fresh condom.
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Where can I buy chlamydia treatment?
You’ll need a prescription to buy doxycycline, even if you’re using an online service.
One of our clinicians can prescribe doxycycline after an online consultation where you confirm you have a positive chlamydia test from a home STI test, your GP surgery or local sexual health clinic. We can also prescribe treatment if a sexual partner has tested positive. It only takes a few minutes.
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Taking other medicines with chlamydia treatment
So, our clinicians can prescribe doxycycline safely, you’ll need to let us know which prescription, over-the-counter medicines and any recreational drugs you’re taking regularly.
If you’re using antacids, indigestion remedies or medications containing iron, zinc or bismuth, you need to wait 4 hours between your last dose of that medication and taking doxycycline.
We advise against drinking alcohol while taking doxycycline as it can make the medication less effective and may increase the risk of some side effects.
You shouldn't take doxycycline while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. If you think you could be pregnant, we advise taking a test before starting this treatment.
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Alternative chlamydia treatment
If you’re allergic to doxycycline, you may get a prescription for azithromycin as an alternative treatment.
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