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You can prevent chlamydial STDs by taking the following measures:

Abstain from sex.
Have a mutually monogamous, lifelong relationship.

You can reduce your risk of acquiring STDs or developing their long-term consequences by taking the following measures:

ALWAYS use a latex condom throughout sexual activity and according to directions.
Get checked regularly for sexually transmitted diseases, especially if you are under the age of 25.
Get immunization for preventable sexually transmitted disease.

Other barrier methods of contraception, such as a diaphragm, may partially protect against chlamydial infection, but these methods are not even as reliable as a condom.

If you already have chlamydia, you can prevent its transmission by:

Making sure that all sexual partners are tested and treated.
Refraining from sexual activity until your infection is gone.

A recent review of several studies suggests that giving patients some responsibility for treating their sexual partners reduces the risk of persistent or recurrent infection with both chlamydia and gonorrhea. This may take the form patients delivering antibiotics medication to their partners or providing information to partners on how to get evaluated and treated. Bringing home sampling kits to screen for Chlamydia also seemed to encourage partners to get treated. *

Other forms of chlamydia may be prevented by avoiding close contact with birds and with flies in endemic areas and by regular prenatal care that includes testing for STDs. Every newborn is routinely treated with one of several eye treatments to prevent neonatal infection from either chlamydia or gonorrhea . This preventive measure is almost, but not quite, 100% effective.

References

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety website. Available at: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/psittacosis.html . Accessed July 28, 2005.

Canadian Paediatric Society website. Available at: http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/ID/ID02-03.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

Chlamydia. The National Women's Health Organization website. Available at: http://www.4women.gov/faq/stdchlam.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

Chlamydia infections in women. Medline Plus. US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000660.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

International Trachoma Initiative website. Available at: http://www.trachoma.org/home.asp . Accessed July 28, 2005.

National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/ AND http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/psittacosis_t.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdclam.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

Golden MR, Whittington WL, Handsfield HH, et al. Effect of expedited treatment of sex partners on recurrent or persistent gonorrhea or chlamydial infection. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:676-685.

Updated Treatment section on 2/15/2007 according to the following study, as cited by DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Trelle S, Shang A, Nartey L, Cassell JA, Low N. Improved effectiveness of partner notification for patients with sexually transmitted infections: systematic review. BMJ. 2007 Jan 19; [Epub ahead of print].

Last reviewed February 2007 by David Juan, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Reducing Your Risk of Chlamydia

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