Chlamydia is a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can affect both men and women. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and often presents without noticeable symptoms, leading many infected individuals to be unaware they have it. Despite its often silent nature, chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics, which can effectively clear the infection.
Understanding Reinfection During Treatment
Reinfection with chlamydia is possible during treatment, occurring when you are exposed to new bacteria from an external source, not because the original infection returned. The primary way reinfection occurs is through sexual contact with an untreated partner. This can happen if a sexual partner from before or during your treatment has not been tested and treated. Reinfection can also occur if you engage in sexual activity with a new partner who has an active chlamydia infection. Even if you are taking antibiotics, your body is not immediately immune to new chlamydia exposure. Completing your prescribed antibiotic course clears your current infection, but it does not protect you from acquiring the infection again.
Steps to Prevent Reinfection
Preventing reinfection is an important part of chlamydia treatment. It is important to abstain from all sexual activity, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex, during your entire treatment period. This abstinence should continue until you have completed the full course of prescribed antibiotics, typically for seven days after a single-dose treatment or until the end of a seven-day regimen. Additionally, wait until any sexual partners have completed their treatment.
Notify all sexual partners from the past 60 days so they can be tested and treated simultaneously. If your last sexual contact was more than 60 days before your diagnosis, your most recent sexual partner should still be evaluated and treated. This partner notification helps break the chain of transmission and prevents reinfection. For future sexual encounters after successful treatment, consistently using barrier methods like condoms can reduce the risk of acquiring chlamydia again.
Complete the entire course of antibiotics exactly as prescribed, even if your symptoms improve or disappear. Stopping treatment early can lead to the infection not being fully eradicated, increasing the chance of it persisting or recurring. While antibiotic resistance is rare, not completing the full course can lead to a repeat infection.
What to Do if Reinfection is Suspected
If you suspect you have been reinfected with chlamydia, contact your healthcare provider immediately. They can assess your symptoms and medical history, and determine the appropriate course of action. Repeat testing, including a “test of cure,” may be recommended.
For pregnant women, a test of cure is generally recommended approximately 3-4 weeks after completing treatment. For non-pregnant individuals, retesting is typically advised about 3 months after treatment, regardless of partner treatment. Testing too soon after treatment, within 3-4 weeks, can sometimes yield a false positive result because non-viable bacterial DNA may still be present. If reinfection is confirmed, your healthcare provider will prescribe another course of antibiotics.
Untreated or repeated chlamydia infections can lead to serious complications. In women, these include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), potentially causing chronic pelvic pain, infertility, or ectopic pregnancy. In men, untreated chlamydia can lead to epididymitis, causing pain and swelling in the testicles.