Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis

Frequently Asked Questions Expand All

• What is a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?

  A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection spread by sexual contact. There are many STIs. This FAQ focuses on chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. These STIs can cause long-term health problems and problems during pregnancy. Having an STI also increases the risk of getting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) if you are exposed to it.

• What is chlamydia?

  Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STI in the United States. Chlamydia is caused by a type of bacteria, which can be passed from person to person during vaginal sex, oral sex, or anal sex. Infections can occur in the mouth, reproductive organs, urethra, and rectum. In women, the most common place for infection is the cervix (the opening of the uterus).

• What are the risk factors for chlamydia?

  The following factors increase the risk of getting chlamydia:

  • Having a new sex partner

  • Having more than one sex partner

  • Having a sex partner who has more than one sex partner

  • Having sex with someone who has an STI

  • Having an STI now or in the past

  • Not using condoms consistently when not in a mutually monogamous relationship

  • Exchanging sex for money or drugs

• What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

  Chlamydia usually does not cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may show up between a few days and several weeks after infection. They may be very mild and can be mistaken for a urinary tract or vaginal infection. The most common symptoms in women include

  • yellow discharge from the vagina or urethra

  • painful or frequent urination

  • vaginal bleeding between periods

  • rectal bleeding, discharge, or pain

• How do I get tested for chlamydia?

  In women, a chlamydia test can be done on a urine sample or on samples taken with a swab from the vagina, mouth, throat, rectum, or the area around the cervix. You can do a self-swab of your vagina or rectum in the office of your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn). A yearly screening test is recommended for women younger than 25 and for women 25 and older with risk factors for chlamydia.

• How is chlamydia treated?

  Chlamydia is treated with an antibiotic. Your sex partners also need to be tested and treated. This includes anyone you have had sex with in the past 60 days or your last sex partner. Be sure to take all of your medicine as directed.

  Chlamydia can be passed to sex partners even during treatment. You should avoid sexual contact until you have finished treatment, and your sex partners should as well. You also should be retested for chlamydia 3 months after treatment.

• What complications are associated with chlamydia?

  If left untreated, chlamydia can cause complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to long-term health problems and affect your ability to get pregnant.

• What is gonorrhea?

  Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported STI in the United States. Gonorrhea and chlamydia often occur together. Gonorrhea also is caused by bacteria that can be passed to a partner during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

• What are risk factors for gonorrhea?

  The risk factors for gonorrhea are the same as the risk factors for chlamydia (see above).

• What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?

  Gonorrhea often causes no symptoms or only very mild symptoms. Women with gonorrhea may think they have a minor urinary tract or vaginal infection. Symptoms include

  • yellow vaginal discharge

  • painful or frequent urination

  • vaginal bleeding between periods

  • rectal bleeding, discharge, or pain

• How do I get tested for gonorrhea?

  Testing for gonorrhea is similar to testing for chlamydia. In women, tests for gonorrhea can be done on a urine sample or on samples taken with a swab from the vagina, mouth, throat, rectum, or the area around the cervix. A yearly screening test is recommended for women younger than 25 and for women 25 and older with risk factors for gonorrhea.

• How is gonorrhea treated?

  Gonorrhea is treated with two kinds of antibiotics. The recommended treatment is an injection of one antibiotic followed by a single pill of another antibiotic. If the injection is not available, you can take two types of antibiotic pills. This treatment also is effective against chlamydia. Your sex partners also need to be tested for gonorrhea and treated.

• What complications are associated with gonorrhea?

  If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to the same long-term health complications as chlamydia, including PID, as well as disseminated gonococcal infection.

• What is syphilis?

  Syphilis is caused by bacteria. The bacteria that cause syphilis enter the body through a cut in the skin or through contact with a partner’s syphilis sore. This sore is known as a chancre. Because this sore commonly occurs on the vulva, vagina, anus, or penis, syphilis most often is spread through sexual contact. The genital sores caused by syphilis also make it easier to become infected with and transmit HIV. Syphilis also can be spread through contact with the rash that appears in later stages of the disease.

• What are the symptoms of syphilis?

  Symptoms of syphilis differ by stage:

  • Primary stage—Syphilis first appears as a painless chancre. This sore goes away without treatment in 3 to 6 weeks.

  • Secondary stage—If syphilis is not treated, the next stage begins as the chancre is healing or several weeks after the chancre has disappeared, when a rash may appear. The rash usually appears on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Flat warts may be seen on the vulva. There may be flu-like symptoms.

  • Latent infection—In some people, the rash and other symptoms may go away in a few weeks or months, but that does not mean the infection is gone. It still is in the body. This is called latent infection.

• How do I get tested for syphilis?

  Two blood tests usually are needed to diagnose syphilis. Routine testing for syphilis is not recommended for those who are not pregnant. But during pregnancy, you should be tested three times: at your first prenatal visit, in the third trimester, and at delivery.

• How is syphilis treated?

  Syphilis is treated with antibiotics. If it is caught and treated early, long-term problems can be prevented. The length of treatment depends on how long you have had the infection. You may have periodic blood tests to see if the treatment is working. Sexual contact should be avoided during treatment. If you are diagnosed with syphilis, you also should be tested for HIV. Your sex partners should be treated for syphilis.

• What complications are associated with syphilis?

  If untreated, syphilis may return in its most serious form years later. Late-stage syphilis is a serious illness. Heart problems, neurological problems, and tumors may occur, leading to brain damage, blindness, paralysis, and even death. At any stage, syphilis can affect the brain, which can lead to meningitis, problems with hearing and eyesight, and other neurological symptoms.

• Do I need to tell my sex partners if I have an STI?

  Telling sex partners that you have an STI and are being treated for it is called partner notification. It is an important step in treatment. When partners are treated, it helps reduce the risk of you being reinfected.

  You can tell your partners yourself, or you may be able to have the health care department in your state do it. If you choose to have the health department tell your partners, your name will not be used when the partner is told.

• What can I do to prevent getting chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis?

  You can take steps to avoid getting chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. These safeguards also help protect against other STIs, including HIV:

  • Use a latex or polyurethane condom every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

  • Know your sex partners. The more partners you or your partners have, the higher your risk of getting an STI.

  • Ask about your partner’s sexual history. Ask your partner whether they have had STIs.

  • Avoid contact with any sores on the genitals.

  • Get tested every year for chlamydia and gonorrhea if it is recommended for your age group. If your ob-gyn does not offer you this screening, ask to be tested.

• Glossary

  Antibiotic: Medication that treats or decreases the risk of certain infections caused by bacteria.

  Anus: The opening of the digestive tract through which bowel movements leave the body.

  Cervix: The lower, narrow end of the uterus at the top of the vagina.

  Chancre: [SHANG-kuhr]: A sore caused by syphilis that is found at the place of infection.  

  Chlamydia: A sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria. This infection can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

  Complications: Diseases or conditions that happen as a result of another disease or condition. An example is pneumonia that occurs as a result of the flu. A complication also can occur as a result of a condition, such as pregnancy. An example of a pregnancy complication is preterm labor.

  Disseminated Gonococcal Infection: [di-SEM-uh-nay-tuhd gah-nuh-KAH-kuhl]: An infection that may result from untreated infection with gonorrhea and can be life-threatening. Symptoms include fever, chills, skin sores, and pain in the wrists, fingers, knees, or toes.

  Genitals: The sexual or reproductive organs on the outside of the body.

  Gonorrhea: A sexually transmitted infection that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and arthritis.

  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): A virus that attacks certain cells of the body’s immune system. If left untreated, HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

  Meningitis: [min-uhn-JY-tuhs]: Inflammation of the covering of the brain or spinal cord, usually caused by infection. 

  Neurological: Related to the nervous system, or the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

  Obstetrician–Gynecologist (Ob-Gyn): A doctor with medical and surgical training and education in the female reproductive system.

  Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): An infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.

  Penis: The male sex organ.

  Rectum: The last part of the digestive tract.

  Screening Test: Test that looks for possible signs of disease in people who do not have symptoms. If signs of disease are found, more testing may be needed.

  Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI): An infection that is spread by sexual contact. Infections include chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]).

  Syphilis: A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is caused by an organism called Treponema pallidum. This infection may cause major health problems or death in its later stages.

  Urethra: [yu-REE-thruh]: A tube-like structure. Urine flows through this tube when it leaves the body.

  Uterus: A muscular organ in the female pelvis. During pregnancy, this organ holds and nourishes the fetus. Also called the womb.

  Vagina: A tube-like structure surrounded by muscles. The vagina leads from the uterus to the outside of the body.

  Vulva: The external female genital area.