Does chlamydia really go "dormant" like herpes?
No. Herpes hides in nerve cells between outbreaks and can reactivate and cause symptoms again later; chlamydia does not have an equivalent hidden, inactive phase. Chlamydia is either present and active, or it has been cleared, either by treatment or, in some cases, by the immune system over time. It does not disappear and then resurface the way a herpes outbreak can.
The confusion usually comes from the fact that chlamydia so often causes no symptoms in the first place, so it can feel as if it "appeared out of nowhere" when a test finally picks it up. What actually happened is that the infection was there all along, silently.
A short comparison of how the two infections behave once someone is exposed.
How long can chlamydia persist without symptoms?
Chlamydia can persist without symptoms for months, and in people who are never tested, considerably longer. Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms at all, so there is often nothing to prompt a test in the first place. Without testing, there is no natural point at which the infection announces itself.
Can chlamydia clear up on its own?
Some untreated chlamydia infections do clear without treatment over time, but this cannot be predicted or relied upon for any individual case. Antibiotics remain the reliable way to clear the infection and to stop it being passed on or causing complications in the meantime. If you have had a possible exposure, testing and treatment where needed is the safer route rather than waiting to see whether it resolves by itself.
Does a positive result mean my partner was unfaithful?
Not necessarily. Because chlamydia can persist without symptoms for a long time, a positive test after years in a relationship does not tell you when the infection was acquired or by whom. It may have been present since before the relationship began, in either partner, and simply never tested for. A result like this is understandably distressing, but it is not, on its own, evidence of recent infidelity.
What happens if chlamydia is left untreated for a long time?
Long-standing, untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which carries a risk of chronic pelvic pain and fertility problems, and to epididymitis in men, causing pain and swelling in the testicle. Reactive arthritis, which affects the joints, eyes and urethra, is a less common complication in either sex. These risks are a reason to test and treat rather than to assume a long-silent infection is harmless.
Should I get retested after treatment?
A test of cure is not routinely needed after standard treatment for uncomplicated genital chlamydia. It may be recommended in some situations, such as pregnancy or some rectal or throat infections, and your clinician will advise whether you need a repeat test and when. Testing again is also sensible after any new partner.
How testing works at our Harley Street clinic
Whatever the history behind it, testing is the same regardless of how long the infection may have been present. A chlamydia test costs £104, using a urine sample or swab, with results in 3 days. If you would prefer a broader screen alongside it, our screening packages start at £250 for the Bronze Package, covering chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis in one visit.
If you need an answer the same day, our same-day STI testing service includes a FAST Screen Simple panel (HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea) with results in 6 hours. Walk in seven days a week at 117a Harley Street; no GP referral is needed. Our guide to private STI testing in London explains how a confidential visit works.
Whatever the history, testing gives you a current answer. Book a chlamydia test at 117a Harley Street: £104, results in 3 days.
References
- Chlamydia (NHS.uk condition page)
- Chlamydia: uncomplicated genital (NICE CKS)
- UK National Guideline for the Management of Genital Tract Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (BASHH)
- Genital herpes (NHS.uk condition page)
- Sexually transmitted infections and chlamydia screening in England: official statistics (UKHSA)
