• Chlamydia
• Vaginal Changes
• Infections
• STDs
• Sexual Health

Can Chlamydia be Dormant?

Medically reviewed and edited by Jarrod Nero, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Even though chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) in America, many people don’t seek medical attention to treat it.

Chlamydia doesn’t always cause symptoms and can even be dormant for years before flaring up.

It's important to know what to do if you suspect that you’ve been infected.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how and when symptoms of chlamydia show up, as well as what you can do if they develop.

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What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia (chlamydia trachomatis) is an STI that develops when harmful bacteria infects the genitals. In rare cases, the eyes can get infected if the bacteria come into contact with them.

Although chlamydia isn’t a life-threatening disease, it can cause lifelong medical conditions if left untreated. Some of these conditions — like HIV or ectopic pregnancy — can even be fatal.

Can Chlamydia Be Dormant?

Chlamydia bacteria can be dormant in the body for several years without flare-ups triggering a symptomatic episode. A person could live with chlamydia for years without knowing it.

If you do develop symptoms, it can be up to three weeks after the initial infection before they show up.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more research is needed to determine what exactly causes chlamydia symptoms to start developing.

Most medical professionals think that symptomatic cases tend to develop when the person’s immune system has been weakened by other conditions like colds and flu.

Does chlamydia cause complications if it’s dormant?

Even if chlamydia doesn’t become symptomatic, it may still cause damage to the body.

It’s known that untreated chlamydia significantly increases the risk of developing severe complications and diseases. These include:

• HIV/AIDS

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

• Prostate gland infection

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Epididymitis

• Infertility

It’s important to get tested for STIs regularly to avoid permanent damage to the reproductive organs and body.

Most health care professionals recommend an annual checkup, or — if you change sexual partners often — getting a chlamydia test every three months.

How is chlamydia diagnosed?

Chlamydia is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) test that typically uses a urine or blood sample.

These samples are then sent to a laboratory where they are tested for the bacteria that causes chlamydia.

Once your results are ready — usually within two to five days — you’ll be notified if you’ve tested positive for chlamydia or not.

Chlamydia should show up on an STD test, even if it’s an asymptomatic case.

Can You Treat Chlamydia if it’s Dormant?

Chlamydia is one of the STIs that is the easiest to treat, even if it’s dormant.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a chlamydia infection, your doctor will likely recommend a course of antibiotics that kills the harmful bacteria.

It’s important to complete your entire course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better. If you don’t, the bacteria may become drug-resistant, making infections harder to treat in the future.

Depending on the severity of your infection, you might also need to take over-the-counter (OTC) medication to help relieve other symptoms.

Should You Visit a Doctor Even if You Don’t Know You Have Chlamydia?

Being proactive when it comes to a chlamydia diagnosis is the key to preventing more serious health problems down the line — even if you’re not showing any symptoms.

That’s why you should make an appointment with your health care provider if:

• You are sexually active

• You suspect you’ve been in contact with infected bodily fluids.

You should also contact your doctor as soon as you start showing any of the symptoms of chlamydia.

Where Can I Learn More About Chlamydia and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases?

If you suspect that you have chlamydia or want to make sure that you haven’t contracted an infection, it’s important to make an appointment as soon as possible.

Speak to one of our board-certified physicians or nurse practitioners from the comfort of your home, today.

Head over to LifeMD to make a telehealth appointment.

Jarrod Nero, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Jarrod, a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, earned his B.S. in Nursing from William Carey University and an M. S. in Family Health Nursing from the Southern University of Baton Rouge. He lives in New Orleans with his partner and son.

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