You can get chlamydia if you are a man or a woman, if you are having sex. Since chlamydia infection is usually sexually transmitted, you are more likely to get it if you have more than one sexual partner or if you do not use condoms when you have sex.

You are more likely to get chlamydia if you use the contraceptive Pill but this is only because you are then less likely to use condoms which can help protect against the infection. Your baby may get chlamydia from you during delivery if you have the infection when you go into labour.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of chlamydia are often quite mild at first. However, chlamydia infection can cause serious complications, so you should not ignore them. If you are a woman, you may notice vaginal discharge, burning when you pass water, pain over your lower stomach or a change in your periods. If you are a man, you may get discharge from your penis and burning when you pass water. If your baby gets chlamydia, you will notice that he or she has sticky eyes from birth.

Why do I need to get treatment?

First, you need to get treatment to stop you from passing the infection on to sexual partners. Just as importantly, chlamydia infection can cause infertility and ectopic pregnancy - a pregnancy which develops outside the womb. If you are a man, you may get Reiter's syndrome, which affects your joints and eyes. When should I go to my doctor? You should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as you develop any combination of the above symptoms.

What tests will my Doctor want to do?

Your doctor will examine you and take swabs - either from your cervix or from the tip of your penis - or may send you on to a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases.

What is the short-term treatment?

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. Your partner and any previous partners may need treatment too.

Will I need long-term treatment?

You will need to return for another swab after you have been treated. Whether or not you need treatment in the future depends on whether your fallopian tubes have been affected.

How can I stop myself getting it?

You can cut down your risks enormously by avoiding casual sex, and by using condoms whenever you have sex.