Can You Get Chlamydia in Your Mouth?

Genital chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, but not many people realise that you can also get chlamydia in other areas of the body. In this article, we’ll explore how you contract chlamydia, where it can be found on your body, and how it is passed on. But most importantly, can you get chlamydia in your mouth?

Although rare, you can get chlamydia in your mouth. Oral chlamydia isn’t passed on through kissing, but you can get it from having oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. If you have oral chlamydia you may have sores around your mouth, blisters on your lips, or swollen lymph nodes. Oral chlamydia is usually treated with the same antibiotics as genital chlamydia.

Read on to find out more about chlamydia, how it is transmitted, and the signs and symptoms to look out for.

Is it Possible To Get Chlamydia in Your Mouth?

Although less common than vaginal or penile chlamydia, you can get chlamydia in your mouth. Oral chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia Trachomatis and can be passed on through unprotected oral sex with someone who has contracted a  chlamydia infection. 

Although chlamydia can be present in your mouth and throat, you cannot transmit or catch it through kissing, or non-sexual contact. Additionally, if you have oral chlamydia, you can transmit the infection to someone’s genitals if you don’t use protection. 

Is Oral Chlamydia Different To Chlamydia?

Oral chlamydia and chlamydia of the vagina, penis, or anus are caused by the same Chlamydia Trachomatis bacteria. Chlamydia of the mouth can only be caused by oral sex, whilst genital chlamydia can be caused by any form of sexual contact. They have different symptoms, but they are usually treated with the same course of antibiotics.

If you’d like to learn more about the signs of chlamydia on the genitals, read one of our recent articles: What Are the Signs Of Chlamydia?

Can You Have Chlamydia Orally and Not Genitally?

Yes, if you get chlamydia in your mouth, you won’t automatically have genital chlamydia too. The Chlamydia Trachomatis bacteria will only infect the location where they have had direct contact with fluids. 

For example, if you give oral sex to someone with chlamydia but you don’t have penetrative sex with them, you will only get oral chlamydia. 

Can You Get Chlamydia in the Mouth From Kissing?

Oral chlamydia can’t be transmitted through kissing. It also won’t be passed on through non-sexual contact such as drinking from the same glass or sharing a towel.

If you’d like to find out more, read one of our recent articles: Can you get chlamydia from kissing?

Where Can You Get Chlamydia?

Chlamydia most commonly infects the genital tract, however, it can also infect someone’s: 

• Cervix 
• Urethra
• Eye
• Mouth
• Rectum

How Do You Know If You Have Chlamydia in Your Mouth?

The most common symptoms of oral chlamydia include but are not limited to:

• Sore throat
• Pain around the mouth
• Sores in the mouth that don’t heal
• Sores and blisters on the lips and mouth
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever 

Genital chlamydia, on the other hand, may present itself with symptoms of:

• Pain when urinating
• Vaginal and penile discharge 
• Pain and bleeding during or after sex
• Bleeding between periods
• Pain and swelling of the testicles

It is important to remember that chlamydia doesn’t always present symptoms and some people may even go months or years without knowing they have it. This is why it is important to get tested for STDs regularly, even if you haven’t slept with anyone new.

Find out more about the STDs that can go unnoticed in one of our recent articles: Are there any STDs with no symptoms?

How Serious is Oral Chlamydia?

Oral chlamydia is a serious infection, and you should get treatment straight away if your test comes back positive. If left untreated, oral chlamydia could cause significant health complications like:

• Pharyngitis
• Toothache 
• Tooth loss
• Secondary mouth infections
• Gum disease
• Vulnerability to other STDs, such as HIV

Does Oral Chlamydia Go Away?

Most STDs don’t go away on their own, including oral chlamydia. Oral chlamydia will require treatment, and those who have caught the STD are usually prescribed a 7-day course of antibiotics.

Whilst you are being treated, you must abstain from unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex so that you don’t pass on the infection to others.

Get Tested For Chlamydia With Your Sexual Health

You can be a carrier of chlamydia and not know you have it, which is why it is important to get tested regularly. If you’re looking for discreet testing at a clinic near you, book a test with Your Sexual Health. Visit our Clinics page to get started, or order a postal test straight to your door.

If you get a positive test result, you might find one of our recent articles helpful: What to do if you have chlamydia. For any other questions or queries, get in touch.