Chlamydia trachomatis: Management and screening

Abstract

C hlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. In up to 50% of men and 70% of women, infection is asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic and can easily be missed. Untreated infection can cause significant morbidity including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. These harmful consequences occur predominantly in women. The UK National Chlamydia Screening Programme recommends opportunistic chlamydia screening for sexually active women who are less than 25 years old. This article provides a contemporary overview of chlamydia. Within this article, references to ‘women’ includes cisgender women and other people with a uterus or ovaries – including transgender men, non-binary people (assigned female at birth) and intersex people with a uterus or ovaries who have not had a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy. ‘Men’ includes cisgender men as well as all other people with a penis and testes, including transgender women who have not had bilateral orchidectomy.