Chlamydia is een van de meest voorkomende seksueel overdraagbare aandoeningen (SOA’s). Het wordt veroorzaakt door de bacterie Chlamydia trachomatis. Het lastige aan chlamydia is dat veel mensen geen klachten hebben, terwijl ze toch besmet zijn. Hierdoor kan de infectie ongemerkt worden doorgegeven aan anderen.

No complaints? You can!

In many people, chlamydia causes no symptoms. In fact, about half of men and three-quarters of women experience no obvious symptoms. This makes it difficult to notice the infection. Recent studies have shown that the long-term effects are much less severe than long thought. This is why the GGD decided to stop testing those without symptoms as of 2025. This does not take away from the fact that if you have cheated, for example, and you have no symptoms, that your partner cannot get symptoms.

Symptoms in women

When women do experience symptoms, they can manifest in a variety of ways. The most common symptoms are:

• Pain during urination: A burning sensation during urination is a common symptom.
• Vaginal discharge: The discharge may change, such as more slimy or with a different smell.
• Bleeding after sex or between periods: Unexplained bleeding may be a signal.
• Pain in the lower abdomen: This may occur especially with a severe infection.

Symptoms in men

Chlamydia can also cause several symptoms in men. The most common are:

• Discharge from the penis: This may be watery or milky.
• Pain during urination: As in women, there may be a burning sensation during urination.
• Pain in the scrotum: In some cases, the infection may spread and cause pain in the scrotum.

When should you get tested?

If you have symptoms that indicate chlamydia, it is important to get tested as soon as possible. Even if you have no symptoms but have had unprotected sex and cheated, it is wise to get an STD test.