Chlamydia in men often causes no complaints or only mild ones. When something does show, it is usually discharge from the penis or a burning feeling when you pee, about 1 to 3 weeks after an infection. Many men notice nothing, and that is exactly why testing is the only way to know for sure.
I often hear men say: I feel nothing, so it must be fine. With chlamydia that reasoning is far from always right.
What are the symptoms of chlamydia in men?
Chlamydia in men often runs without clear complaints. Possible signs are a watery or white discharge from the penis, a burning feeling when you pee, and sometimes a painful or swollen testicle. With anal or oral contact the infection can also sit in the anus or throat, usually without you noticing.
A large share of infections stays symptomless. In a study across five countries (Detels et al., Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2011) a sizeable part of chlamydia infections in men caused no complaints at all.
The table below lists the possible signs by site. It is meant to orient you, not as a diagnosis.
| Site | Possible complaints in men | Often tested with |
|---|---|---|
| Urethra | Discharge from the penis, burning urination (often none) | Urine |
| Epididymis | Sometimes a painful or swollen testicle | Urine, assessment by a doctor |
| Anus | Usually no complaints, sometimes itching or discharge | Anal swab |
| Throat | Almost never any complaints | Throat swab |
Burning when you pee also comes from a bladder infection or irritation. When that does or does not point to an STI is in burning when urinating. The STI men often recognise first is in gonorrhoea (the clap).
How do you get checked for chlamydia as a man?
For chlamydia the lab usually uses a urine sample in men. You catch some pee, often the first stream, and that is examined with a sensitive PCR technique. It helps not to have peed for a couple of hours, so there is more material in your sample.
A test is usually reliable from around 2 weeks after a risk contact. Testing earlier can give a false-negative result.
If you want to keep it discreet, you can do an anonymous chlamydia test with us. If you were exposed to more STIs, a test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas can make more sense. Which check fits your situation is also in STI test for men.
What are the risks in men?
In men an untreated chlamydia infection can sometimes cause inflammation of the epididymis, giving pain and swelling of the scrotum. RIVM describes that serious risks are less common in men than in women, but catching it early stays wise. Far from everyone gets complaints or complications.
So a positive result is no reason to panic. It is mainly a reason to act.
More about the possible risks is in chlamydia risks and infertility. The broader overview is on our hub page about chlamydia.
How do treatment and retesting go?
Chlamydia is well treatable with antibiotics your GP prescribes, usually doxycycline. After a proper course the infection clears in most men. It is important to wait with unprotected sex until you and your partner have finished the course, otherwise you can reinfect each other.
What matters during the course is in chlamydia treatment with antibiotics. When a check afterwards can be useful is in chlamydia retest and follow-up.
Frequently asked questions about chlamydia in men
Can I have chlamydia as a man without symptoms? Yes, that is common. A large share of infections in men run without clear complaints, so only a test gives certainty.
Is a chlamydia test painful for men? No. For chlamydia you usually catch some urine, which does nothing. Only a swab in the throat or anus feels briefly uncomfortable.
Can chlamydia harm my fertility? In men that is rare. An untreated infection can sometimes inflame the epididymis. More on that is in chlamydia risks and infertility.
Should I test if I used a condom? A condom lowers the risk a lot, but does not cover every contact. If in doubt, or after a mishap, a check is still wise.
How long after sex can I test reliably? For chlamydia usually from around 2 weeks after the risk contact. Testing earlier can give a false-negative result.
Every STI result we provide is assessed by a BIG-registered doctor. If you have symptoms or are unsure about your situation, discuss it with your GP or the GGD; this article is meant as explanation, not as medical advice.
Sources
- RIVM, Chlamydia
- Thuisarts.nl, I may have chlamydia
- Detels R et al. The incidence and correlates of symptomatic and asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in selected populations in five countries. Sex Transm Dis. 2011 (PMID 22256336).
Author
