Chlamydia prevention

How do I prevent myself from contracting chlamydia?

Use barriers when having penetrative and oral sex With both condoms and dental dams (i.e. barriers):

• Check that the expiration date hasn't passed before use.
• Inspect for tears and breakage before using. Don't use it if any are detected.
• Using water-based or silicone lubricant can help prevent breakage.
• Don't use oil-based lubricants (i.e. petroleum jelly, baby oil, coconut oil) as they can cause the barrier to break.

Proper Hygiene

• Thoroughly clean sex toys before and after use.
• Wash before and after sexual activity.
• Avoid sharing towels and clothing (especially those that have come into contact with bodily fluids).

Ensure sexual partners who've had chlamydia or suspected an STI have been thoroughly screened and treated. Refrain from engaging in sexual activity until their healthcare provider recommends it’s ok to do so.

Get tested regularly and speak to your sexual partners about their STI history, including testing and treatment.

How do I prevent myself from transmitting chlamydia?

• Condoms
• Dental dams
• Proper Hygiene

If you have been diagnosed with chlamydia or had sexual contact with someone that had it, you should get tested and treated with antibiotics. Ensure you take all of the antibiotics and abstain from sexual activity until your healthcare provider advises.

Regular STI testing is an essential part of sexual health and a way to protect yourself and your sexual partners from contracting and passing transmittable infections.

Can you prevent chlamydia 100% of the time?

While practicing good hygiene (e.g. gently washing genitals and thoroughly cleaning sex toys before/after sex) and using barrires (e.g. condoms and dental dams) are effective ways to protect your sexual health and decrease your risk of sexually transmitted infections, they are not 100% effective.

Condoms can sometimes break or slip off during sexual activity. That's why it's essential to get tested regularly and have open conversations with your sexual partners about their sexual health and testing practices.

Chlamydia and HIV

Chlamydia can increase the risk of HIV transmission and acquisition. Chlamydia can cause tissue swelling and damage within the body, making it easier for HIV to enter your body.

Someone with a chlamydia infection is more likely to contract HIV if they are exposed to HIV during sex.

A chlamydia infection can increase the amount of HIV carried in bodily fluids of HIV-positive individuals, which increases the chances of transmitting HIV to their sexual partner(s).

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Sources:

• http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/aspc-phac/HP40-1-2010-eng.pdf
• https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/clean-up-after-sex#clean--up-kit
• https://www.cdho.org/Advisories/CDHO_Factsheet_Chlamydia.pdf
• https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/the-many-faces-of-chlamydial-infection