What should I do if my sexual partner has tested positive for Chlamydia (sexually transmitted infection)?

Management of Sexual Partner with Chlamydia

If your sexual partner has tested positive for chlamydia, you should be evaluated and treated regardless of whether you have symptoms or not. 1

Immediate Actions Required

• Seek healthcare evaluation promptly - you are at high risk of infection if your partner has tested positive for chlamydia 1, 2
• You should receive treatment without waiting for test results, as the likelihood of infection is high (approximately 76-77% of partners are infected) 3
• Abstain from sexual activity until both you and your partner have completed treatment and are symptom-free 1

Testing Recommendations

• Testing is recommended before treatment, but treatment should not be delayed while waiting for results 4, 1
• For women, cervical or vaginal specimens should be collected 5
• For men, first-void urine specimens are the optimal specimen type for chlamydia testing 5

Treatment Options

First-line treatments:

• Azithromycin 1 g orally in a single dose 1, 6
• Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 7 days 1

Special considerations:

• For pregnant women, azithromycin 1 g as a single dose is preferred 1
• Single-dose therapy with azithromycin may be preferred when medication compliance is a concern 1
• Doxycycline is contraindicated during pregnancy 1

Exposure Period Considerations

• If you are a female partner or an asymptomatic male partner of someone with chlamydia, you should be treated if you had sexual contact with the infected person within 60 days before their diagnosis 4, 1
• If you are a male with symptoms, a 30-day exposure period is considered sufficient 4
• If no sexual exposure occurred within these timeframes, but you were the most recent sexual partner, you should still be evaluated and treated 4, 1

Follow-up Recommendations

• Abstain from sexual activity until both you and your partner have completed treatment 1
  • For single-dose azithromycin: abstain for 7 days after treatment 1
  • For 7-day doxycycline regimen: abstain until the full course is completed 1
• A test-of-cure is not routinely recommended unless symptoms persist or reinfection is suspected 1
• Consider follow-up 2-4 weeks after treatment to ensure resolution 2

Important Considerations

• Untreated chlamydia can lead to serious complications 7:
  • For women: pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and ectopic pregnancy
  • For men: epididymitis and orchitis
  • Both sexes: reactive arthritis
• Approximately two-thirds of chlamydia infections are asymptomatic, making partner notification and treatment crucial 7, 3
• Even if you don't have symptoms, you can still transmit the infection to others 5
• If you are being treated for chlamydia, all of your sexual partners from the relevant time period should also be notified and treated 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Waiting for symptoms to appear before seeking treatment - most infections are asymptomatic 7
• Resuming sexual activity too soon after treatment 1
• Failing to ensure all recent partners are treated, which can lead to reinfection 1, 2
• Not completing the full course of antibiotics if prescribed doxycycline 1
• Assuming you're not infected because you have no symptoms 5, 7

Remember that prompt treatment of all partners is essential to prevent reinfection and reduce transmission in the community 1, 3.