Chlamydia can usually be effectively treated using antibiotics. In more than 95% of cases, individuals will be cured successfully.
In the UK, the two most commonly prescribed chlamydia treatments are:
- Doxycycline: 100mg twice daily for 7 days
- Azithromycin: 1g dose given as a single dose, flowed by 500mg taken daily for two days
Both medications are useful at treating uncomplicated urogenital chlamydia infection. They are both antibiotics but work in different ways. The first is now recommended as a first line treatment whereas the latter is a useful alternative for those who are unable to tolerate Doxycycline or other Tetracycline antibiotics.
Treatment with antibiotics will usually be started following confirmation of the diagnosis via the test results. However, if Chlamydia infection is highly suspected, i.e. you have a number of the symptoms listed above, then you may need antibiotics before the test results come through.
It is important not to have any form of sexual intercourse (both with and without a condom) until both you and your partner(s) have completed treatment, as this will help to prevent the infection from being passed on.
If you had the short course of azithromycin to treat this infection, you should avoid having sexual intercourse for a week after treatment.
