• Chlamydia
• STDs
• Sexual Health

Everything You Should Avoid While Receiving Chlamydia Treatment

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by harmful bacteria. It normally affects the genital areas and can be spread through oral, vaginal, or anal sex.

If left untreated, a chlamydia infection can also spread to other parts of the body and increase your risk of developing severe lifelong health issues.

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What are the Treatment Options for Chlamydia?

It’s possible to treat and cure chlamydia with antibiotics containing doxycycline or azithromycin.

These are prescription medications and can only be obtained after a professional medical consultation.

You’ll only be able to access these antibiotics following a positive chlamydia test result.

Depending on the severity of your infection, your doctor will likely recommend an antibiotic course that lasts anywhere from two to seven days.

What Not to do While on Chlamydia Treatment

Although chlamydia is highly curable, it’s important to follow the right process to ensure effective treatment

Let’s take a closer look at what you should avoid while receiving treatment for chlamydia.

Don't engage in sexual activities

It’s recommended to avoid any sexual activities while taking medication for chlamydia.

You should also try to avoid having unprotected sex — including engaging in oral sex — for up to seven days after completing your treatment. Steering clear of new sexual partners during this time is important.

Abstaining from sexual activities while you complete your treatment helps to prevent the spread of chlamydia.

When can I start having sex again after receiving treatment for chlamydia?

You can generally start to resume sexual activities one week after completing your chlamydia treatment.

This is to ensure that the antibiotics have had enough time to kill the harmful bacteria in your body.

It’s also important to ensure that your partner(s) have completed their chlamydia treatments before engaging in any sexual activities. If they have not, this can increase the chances of reinfection.

Don’t consume alcohol while taking antibiotics

During the course of your treatment, you should avoid alcohol at all times. Alcohol can negatively impact antibiotics which may cause them to become less effective.

Drinking alcohol while taking antibiotics can also cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Don't share medication with a sexual partner

An essential part of overcoming a chlamydia infection is to use your medication exactly as prescribed.

If you share your antibiotics, it leads to improper dosage, which can make the medication less effective for both parties.

Sharing antibiotics can also contribute to bacterial resistance, making it more challenging to treat chlamydia and other similar infections in the future.

If your partner is showing similar symptoms to you, it’s recommended that they seek medical attention and start their own treatment plan as soon as possible.

They should also be screened for STIs.

You can also speak to your healthcare provider about patient delivered partner therapy — a method of providing similar medication to both parties in a safe way.

Don’t miss any doses of your medicine

Similar to sharing medication, missing doses may impact the effectiveness of the antibiotics.

Missed doses of your course of antibiotics primarily contribute to bacterial resistance developing in the body. This makes it harder to treat future infections.

It’s important to note that you shouldn’t double your dosage if you miss one, as this may cause other health complications. Speak to your doctor if you’ve missed a dose instead.

Don't do any douching

Douching can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the genital area, especially if you have a vagina.

This practice may also worsen chlamydia infections because it increases the risk of other harmful bacteria entering the reproductive system.

Don’t skip your follow-up appointments

Once you’ve completed your antibiotics course, you’ll likely have to attend a follow-up appointment with your doctor as part of your treatment.

These appointments are intended to:

• Ensure that the chlamydia infection is fully treated

• Prevent future health complications

• Address any questions or concerns

It’s important to attend these appointments to ensure that your treatment has been effective and to discuss next steps, if necessary.

Where Can I Learn More About Chlamydia and Other Similar Conditions?

If you are currently receiving treatment and feeling concerned about your sexual health, you can speak to a board-certified physician or nurse practitioner from the comfort of your home.

Head over to LifeMD to make a telehealth appointment.

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