What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is easily treated with a short course of antibiotics tablets. It affects both men and women.

Nationally about 2 in 25 sexually active young people who are tested have Chlamydia, yet most people who have Chlamydia have no signs or symptoms and won't know they have got it. Since the programme started the "GOT IT?" programme has had a significantly higher rate of people testing positive.

How do you get Chlamydia

You can get Chlamydia by having sex with someone who already has it. This might have been recently or many months, even years earlier. The infection can spread if you have vaginal, anal or oral sex or share sex toys. This is why it is important to use condoms properly and consistently. You can also pass the infection to the eyes if it's on someone's hands.

A mother can pass it to her baby at birth during delivery.

You cannot get Chlamydia from hugging, kissing, saunas, sharing baths, towels or toilet seats.

Having a simple test can tell you if you have it.