How Do You Get Chlamydia Without Being Sexually Active?

Chlamydia is the leading transmittable STD in the UK. One of the reasons for this is that you don’t have to be sexually active to catch the disease. In the article, we’ll discuss how you contract chlamydia, where you can get it, and the symptoms. But most importantly, how you get chlamydia without being sexually active… 

You can get chlamydia by sharing sex toys and mutual masturbation. If you’re pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass it on to your newborn. You, however, cannot catch chlamydia through casual contact such as kissing, hugging, sharing glasses or from the toilet. 

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 Without Having Sex? 

Yes, it’s possible to catch chlamydia without having sex. You can become infected through: 

• Sharing sex toys with someone who is infected
• Contact with someone’s genital fluid
• Pregnant women can pass it on to their children during childbirth

Sharing Sex Toys 

You can catch chlamydia by sharing sex toys if they aren’t properly washed between uses. As chlamydia is caught by coming into contact with infected genital fluid, if the toy isn’t properly sanitised or you don’t use a condom, you can catch chlamydia. 

Contact With Genital Fluid

If you come into contact with infected genital fluid, you can catch chlamydia. This can occur if fluid enters via your eye, mouth or if your genitals touch. You can get chlamydia without penetration, orgasm or ejaculation, as it’s within any genital fluid. 

Pregnancy 

A pregnant woman can pass chlamydia on during childbirth as the baby will come into contact with the infected genital fluid in the birth canal. The baby will then become infected and could develop a lung (pneumonia) and eye (conjunctivitis) infection. 

If you are worried about the risk of chlamydia, make sure to get tested regularly to prevent the risk of transmission. 

Can You Get Chlamydia From Kissing? 

Chlamydia can’t be transmitted through kissing, as this is a form of casual contact. Chlamydia is transmitted through the fluid from either the penis or vagina. 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 read more, check out one of our recent articles: Can you get chlamydia from kissing?

How Do You Know If You Have Chlamydia? 

Whilst Chlamydia often lays dormant in many people, the disease may flare up and cause symptoms due to a change in the immune system, such as a cold or flu.

The most common symptoms of chlamydia include:

• Unusual discharge from the bottom, vagina or penis
• Testicle pain and swelling 
• Pain when urinating 
• Bleeding after sex or spotting between periods for women
• Pain in the tummy 

However, STDs such as Chlamydia can often be asymptomatic. It is reported that nearly 75% of women and 50% of men are asymptomatic when infected with Chlamydia. To reduce the risk of transmission, it is essential to regularly test for STDs, particularly if you have multiple sexual partners.

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 Serious Is Chlamydia? 

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

• Infertility
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Inflammation
• Infections
• Pregnancy complications
• Reactive Arthritis

Does Chlamydia Go Away On Its Own? 

Most STDs don’t go away on their own, including chlamydia. Chlamydia will require treatment, and those who have caught the STD will be prescribed antibiotics. 

Whilst you are being treated, you must abstain from oral, anal, or vaginal sex to prevent passing 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’s essential to get tested. If you’re looking for a discreet test 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. 

In the unfortunate event that your results come back positive, these can be discussed and actioned by your own GP. We can also recommend an independent private GP service if you prefer who can discuss your circumstances and manage further as required. This service will be free of charge to you. For more questions or queries, get in touch.