Chlamydia
Prevention
You can reduce your risk of becoming infected with chlamydia or another sexually transmitted infection (STI) and spreading the disease.
Practise safe sex
Preventing an STI is easier than treating an infection once it occurs.
- Talk with your partner about STIs before beginning a sexual relationship. Find out whether he or she is at risk for an STI. Remember that it is possible to be infected with an STI and not know it. HIV, for example, may not be found in the blood for up to 6 months after initial infection.
- Be careful.
- Avoid sexual contact if you have symptoms of an STI or are being treated for an STI.
- Avoid sexual contact with anyone who has symptoms of an STI or who may have been exposed to an STI.
- Do not have more than one sex partner at a time. Your risk for an STI increases if you have several sex partners.
For more information, see the topic Safe Sex.
Male condom use
Condoms reduce the risk of becoming infected with an STI. A condom must be put on before beginning any sexual contact. Use condoms with a new partner until you are certain he or she does not have an STI.
Female condom use
Even if you are using another birth control method, you may want to use condoms to reduce your risk of getting an STI. Female condoms are available for women whose partners do not have or will not use a male condom.
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| Author: | Douglas Dana Sabra L. Katz-Wise Ralph Poore | Last Updated: March 9, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH - Infectious Disease Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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