What if I test positive for chlamydia?
We will offer you free treatment and support or help you get treatment from a sexual health clinic.
If you have chlamydia, you may also have another STI. It is advisable to have a full sexual health screen, including blood tests for syphilis and HIV.
We ask some people to give us a rectal (bum) sample. If you test positive for rectal (in the bum) chlamydia, this can sometimes mean you have a type of chlamydia called lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). LGV can be more serious and is more common in gay or bisexual men. We may suggest you go to a sexual health clinic for an LGV test and treatment.
How is chlamydia treated?
Chlamydia is usually easy to cure with antibiotics. Treatment is free.
You usually take antibiotic tablets or capsules every day for a week.
If you do not have any symptoms, you may be able to choose from:
- Treatment by post
- Collecting treatment at a local pharmacy
- Attending a sexual health clinic for treatment
You may need to get treatment at a sexual health clinic if:
- Postal treatment is not available in your area
- You have any symptoms. You may need a check-up and a longer course of antibiotics
- You have chlamydia in your rectum (bum) or throat
- You test positive for any other STIs. These will need different treatment
We can help you find your nearest clinic.
After starting treatment, any symptoms should improve within a few days and get better completely in 2 to 4 weeks.
If symptoms don’t go away, or you develop testicle pain, pelvic (lower tummy) pain or pain during sex, go to a sexual health clinic. You may need more tests or treatment.
FAQs about free NHS home chlamydia tests
Why should I get a free chlamydia test?
Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in the UK, especially among people aged under 25.
Most people with chlamydia will not have any symptoms, so you could have it without knowing.
Unless chlamydia is treated and cured it may lead to painful complications or future health problems.
Untreated chlamydia can also be passed on to your sexual partner(s).
Who should get a free chlamydia test?
If you are sexually active, there is a chance you could have chlamydia without knowing it. You are more likely to have it if you are aged under 25 or if you have had sex without a condom.
It’s a good idea to test for chlamydia and other STIs once a year or when you have a new partner, especially if you have sex without a condom. Some people may be advised to test more often.
The National Chlamydia Screening Programme recommends that all women and people with a womb and ovaries who are sexually active and aged under 25, get tested once a year or when you change sexual partner.
When should I take a home chlamydia test?
Do a test now if:
- you have any symptoms of chlamydia or
- a sexual partner has chlamydia or another STI
Depending on your symptoms, we may advise you to get tested at a clinic instead of doing a home test.
Consider waiting up to 2 weeks after your last sexual contact if:
- you have no symptoms and just want a sexual health check-up
This helps your test to be as accurate as possible. Chlamydia may not show up on a test straight away. Testing too early may mean you test negative even if you do have early chlamydia. More about when to take a test.
How do I order a free chlamydia test?
Order your free SH.UK chlamydia testing kit online .
- Answer a few quick questions
- We work out which tests are best for you
- Your free personalised test kit arrives by post in the next few days – in a discreet plain package
If you would rather get tested at a sexual health clinic, search for your nearest clinic:
How do I use a chlamydia self-test kit?
Your STI testing kit comes with everything you need to take your own sample. This is called self-sampling .
You pack your samples into the freepost box and send them back to our lab for testing. You can post them in any Royal Mail postbox.
When will I get my results?
You will usually get your results 2 or 3 days after your sample arrives at our lab.
You will be able to view the results online. They are completely secure and private.
Order your chlamydia testing kit now to get your results as soon as possible.
Contacting partners
If you have chlamydia, you will usually be asked to tell any sexual partners from the last 6 months or since your last negative test. Sexual partners are advised to get a free chlamydia test at a clinic. They may be offered treatment straight away.
Informing, testing and treating partners lowers the chances of:
- Getting chlamydia again
- Chlamydia being passed on to anyone else
If you feel unable to tell sexual partners, one of our Health Advisers can tell them without revealing your identity.
Preventing chlamydia in future
You can get chlamydia more than once. To avoid getting it again, do not have oral, anal or vaginal sex until:
- at least one week after starting treatment and
- both you and your current sexual partner(s) have finished treatment, even if this is longer than one week and
- both you and your current sexual partner’s symptoms have gone
You don’t usually need a test to check the chlamydia has been cured unless your symptoms do not go away.
But if you are under 25, consider doing another chlamydia test 3 to 6 months after being treated. This is because young adults have a higher chance of getting chlamydia again.
To help protect your health in future, use condoms, test for STIs at least once a year, and encourage sexual partner(s) to test for STIs too.
People at higher risk of chlamydia or syphilis may also be offered a preventative treatment called DoxyPEP – ask your local clinic if this is available and suitable for you.
Order A Free Home Chlamydia Test Kit
Get your free STI testing kit delivered to your door. Take a self-sample and return it for free. Get your results online within a week.
Check to see if SH.UK offers NHS-funded home test kits in your area.
Find your local STI services
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