Chlamydia treatment - Doxycycline or azithromycin

Treating chlamydia at home

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. We’ll send either doxycycline or azithromycin. We’ll ask some questions when you order to work out which medication is best for you.

For doxycycline, you take 1 tablet twice a day, for 7 days. For azithromycin, you take one dose of 1g, followed by 500mg on each of the next 2 days.

Treatment should clear the infection after 7 days. Avoid having sex for 1 week after starting your treatment.

Telling your partner

If you have chlamydia, tell your current sexual partner and anyone you’ve had sex with in the last 6 months.

They could be spreading the infection to other people. Chlamydia can cause serious symptoms if left untreated, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, infertility, or an infection in the testicles. If you’re worried about telling people, you could use an anonymous partner notification service.

Avoiding chlamydia infection

The best way to avoid chlamydia is to use a condom every time you have sex. You should also use condoms for oral and anal sex, as chlamydia can be passed on through the throat or rectum. 

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI in the UK, particularly amongst people under 25 years old. If you change partners, get tested. Regular testing means you can get treatment when you need it and avoid passing chlamydia onto other people.