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Chlamydia Discharge In Men And Women

By: Author Dr Akatakpo Dunn, MBBS, PG Dip Ultrasound, Prof Dip O&G (RCPI) Medical Director & Lead Obstetrician/Ultrasonologist, Verah Clinic & Maternity

Posted on Last updated:

Chlamydia discharge in men and women is usually due to infection with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial STIs worldwide. 

Are you having an unusual vaginal discharge after unprotected intercourse? Do you have watery or cloudy discharge from your urethra? Do you feel pain or burning sensation while urinating?

Chlamydia infection, which affects millions of people worldwide, can affect the cervix, urethra, rectum, throat, joints and eyes of both men and women. An infected woman may also transmit chlamydia infection to her baby during childbirth, usually to the eyes or lungs.

Chlamydia symptoms and signs are absent in more than half of infected men and women. Many people never notice symptoms at all. Therefore, if you’ve had intercourse without protection, you may have chlamydia without knowing. nhs.uk

Read more: How long can you have chlamydia without knowing

What are the ways to get chlamydia?

Chlamydia transmission happens mainly through sexual contact with someone who already has the infection. This includes vaginal, anal or oral sex, or sharing sex toys that are not washed or covered with a condom. An infected mother can also pass chlamydia to her baby during birth. nhs.uk

Ways to get chlamydia are:

  • Unprotected anal intercourse

  • Unprotected vaginal intercourse

  • Oral sexual contact with a partner who has genital or throat chlamydia

  • Sharing sex toys during intercourse without washing them or using a fresh condom each time

  • Sexual contact with infected genital fluids on the fingers or hands

You cannot catch genital chlamydia from hugging, kissing, sharing towels, cutlery, toilet seats or swimming pools. sexualwellbeing.ie+1

What does normal vaginal discharge in women look like?

Vaginal discharge in women may have different colors and may be watery or thick during your menstrual cycle. It is usually white and consists of epithelial cells, bacteria including lactobacillus, fungi and cervical mucus.

Vaginal discharge is the body’s natural way of protecting against infection. Vaginal pH is between about 3.8 and 4.5, and this acidity is vital to prevent growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. Cleveland Clinic

Several types of discharge a woman could have are:

Vaginal discharge may be thick at both ends of your menstrual cycle or more watery around ovulation. Normal discharge does not have a strong bad smell or cause vaginal itching.

Yellow mucus discharge and green mucus discharge in women are more likely due to an infection (for example, STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea, or infections like bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis). Cleveland Clinic+1

What does chlamydia discharge look like?

Chlamydia discharge in women can be whitish, yellowish, pus-like or sometimes greenish. Some women do not notice any discharge at all, even when infected. nhs.uk

Other symptoms are:

  • Vaginal itching

  • Pain during sexual intercourse

  • Vulva pain

  • Painful urination

If you’ve had unprotected sexual intercourse weeks or months ago and now have painful urination and pus-like discharge, then it may be due to chlamydia infection.

However, other sexually transmitted infections may present with similar symptoms, so you cannot diagnose chlamydia by discharge alone. You need a test.

What other symptoms of chlamydia could I have?

What are the long term effects of chlamydia in women?

If chlamydia is not treated early, the infection can spread upwards from the cervix into the womb and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Cleveland Clinic+1

Possible long-term effects of untreated chlamydia in women include:

  • Ascending chlamydia infection resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

  • Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb)

  • Infertility due to damage and scarring of the tubes

  • Chronic pelvic pain

  • Increased chance of getting other STIs like gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV if exposed World Health Organization+1

  • In pregnancy, untreated chlamydia may increase the risk of premature delivery and low birth weight in some women Cleveland Clinic+1

Read More: Chlamydia long term effects

What does chlamydia discharge look like in men?

If you’ve had intercourse with someone who has chlamydia infection, you may develop penile discharge. Penile discharge due to chlamydia infection is often white, cloudy or watery, and may be pus-like. nhs.uk

Other male symptoms of chlamydia are:

  • Painful discomfort or burning sensation while urinating

  • Painful swollen testicle due to inflammation (epididymitis)

  • Red or painful eyes due to hand-to-eye transmission (conjunctivitis)

  • Fever or feeling generally unwell

  • Discomfort during intercourse

Severe or untreated eye infection can damage vision, but true blindness from genital chlamydia is very rare in places where treatment is available. NCBI+1

Remember: many men with chlamydia have no symptoms at all. nhs.uk+1

How can chlamydia discharge be diagnosed and treated?

If you have any of these symptoms, then it may be due to chlamydia or another STI. Do not guess. Get tested.

You can use an approved home chlamydia test kit or visit a clinic for testing. The most accurate tests are nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) done on a urine sample or a swab from the cervix, vagina, urethra, throat or rectum. Results usually come back within a few days. CDC

If you have yellow purulent discharge, discharge from the urethra or vagina is usually collected with a swab for testing. In many places, NAAT has replaced routine culture because it is more sensitive and faster, although culture may still be used in some settings. CDC+

If positive, chlamydia treatment involves use of antibiotics:

  • For most adults and adolescents, the preferred treatment is doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 7 days. CDC+

  • Azithromycin or amoxicillin may be used in pregnancy or when doxycycline is not suitable, depending on local or national guidelines. CDC+1

Your doctor or clinic will also usually test you for other sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. CDC+1

Very important:

  • Your recent sexual partners need testing and treatment, otherwise you can be re-infected.

  • Avoid sexual intercourse (including oral and anal sex) until you and your partner(s) have finished treatment and at least 7 days have passed after starting a 7-day course or after a single-dose treatment. CDC+1

See a doctor or go to a clinic urgently if you have strong lower abdominal pain, high fever, pain during sex, or you feel very unwell, as this may be pelvic inflammatory disease and needs urgent treatment.

Can chlamydia infection be prevented?

Because chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection, you can prevent it completely by abstaining from intercourse. Other ways you can reduce the risk and prevent chlamydia spread are:

  • Use condoms correctly every time during vaginal, anal and oral intercourse

  • Avoid unprotected oral and anal intercourse

  • Do not share sex toys, or cover them with a condom and wash them between users

  • Advise and counsel partners about chlamydia side effects and why they must test for chlamydia. You can get re-infected if your partner is not treated.

  • Avoid sexual intercourse while on chlamydia treatment until you and your partner(s) have completed treatment

  • Retest for chlamydia about 3 months after treatment, because repeat infections are common, especially in young people CDC

If you are sexually active, especially if you are under 25 or have new or multiple partners, talk to your doctor about routine chlamydia screening once a year or as advised in your country’s guidelines. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and CDC both recommend regular screening for young, sexually active women. ACOG

For general tips on reducing STI risk, see also ACOG – How to Prevent STIs. ACOG

Frequently asked questions about chlamydia discharge

These are some questions that may concern you.

What is chlamydia discharge color?

Chlamydia discharge color is often whitish, pus-like, yellowish or milky white. Some women may have green discharge. Men often notice a white, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the penis. nhs.uk

Urgent treatment is necessary to prevent chlamydia complications and to protect your partners.

Does chlamydia have a fishy odor?

Fishy vaginal odor or discharge is more likely due to bacterial vaginosis (BV) infection. BV infection of the vagina occurs due to a change in the normal good bacteria, lactobacillus, which keeps the vagina acidic. Women with BV complain of fishy smelly discharge with little or no signs of inflammation. Cleveland Clinic

However, chlamydia discharge in women may sometimes have an offensive smell with yellow or whitish discharge, especially if there is another infection at the same time.

Now it’s your turn. Do you have chlamydia-type discharge after unprotected sexual intercourse? Any other symptoms? Let us know if we can help, and please see a doctor or sexual health clinic for proper testing and treatment rather than self-treating at home.