This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the United States. It is also one of the easiest to treat. The hard part is that many people never notice anything is wrong, so the only way to learn about it is a test.

This guide covers the symptoms of chlamydia, who should be screened, how testing works, whether chlamydia is curable, what chlamydia treatment looks like when a clinician prescribes it, and where to get tested in Orlando. It uses the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021), later CDC updates, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and the Florida Department of Health.

Key takeaways

Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, according to the CDC. A test is the only way to find out.
Chlamydia is curable. The CDC says it is treated with antibiotics that a clinician prescribes.
The USPSTF and CDC recommend yearly screening for sexually active women 24 and younger. They also recommend it for older women with higher chances of exposure. The CDC recommends at least yearly screening for sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
The usual test is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). It uses a urine sample or a swab.
The CDC recommends retesting about three months after treatment, and treatment for recent sex partners.
In 2025, Orange County reported 516.7 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people, compared with 410.8 per 100,000 statewide (FLHealthCHARTS, Florida Department of Health).
Low-cost and free testing is available in Orlando. Florida law lets minors get STD testing and treatment without a parent's consent.

In this guide

What chlamydia is and why it often goes unnoticed
Symptoms of chlamydia
Who should be screened, and how often
How chlamydia testing works
Is chlamydia curable? Treatment from a clinician
Partners, retesting and prevention
Chlamydia in Orlando: numbers, laws and where to get tested

What chlamydia is and why it often goes unnoticed

Chlamydia is an infection caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. It spreads through vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can also pass from a pregnant person to a baby during birth.

Anyone who has sex can get chlamydia. It is not tied to gender, orientation or the number of partners. Condoms and dental dams lower the chance of getting it but do not remove it, since the bacteria can be present on skin and fluids the barrier does not cover.

Why it is called a "silent" infection

The CDC says most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they often show up weeks after exposure. Some people never have any.

This is why health agencies lean on screening instead of waiting for signs. A person can feel completely well and still be carrying the bacteria and able to pass it on. This is a fact about how the infection behaves. It is not a sign that anyone did anything wrong.

Why it matters to treat it

Left untreated, chlamydia can cause problems that are harder to reverse than the infection itself. The CDC lists several:

In people with a uterus, the infection can spread to the reproductive organs and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to long-term pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and trouble getting pregnant.
In people with a penis, the infection can inflame the tube behind the testicle (epididymitis), which causes pain and swelling.
During pregnancy, untreated chlamydia can be passed to the baby. It can cause eye infections and pneumonia in newborns.
Having chlamydia can make it easier to get or pass on HIV.

The good news is that finding chlamydia early and treating it is straightforward. Most of this guide is about how to do that in Orlando.

Symptoms of chlamydia

The symptoms of chlamydia are often mild, easy to mistake for something else, or absent. Having any of the signs below does not mean a person has chlamydia. Having none does not rule it out. Only a test can say, and a clinician can interpret the result.

Symptoms that can occur in people with a vagina or cervix

The CDC lists these possible signs:

An unusual vaginal discharge, which may have an odor
A burning feeling when urinating
Pain during sex
Bleeding between periods or after sex
Lower belly or pelvic pain

Pelvic pain, fever or pain during sex can point to infection that has moved beyond the cervix. These are worth raising with a clinician promptly.

Symptoms that can occur in people with a penis

The CDC lists these possible signs:

Discharge from the penis
A burning feeling when urinating
Pain and swelling in one or both testicles, which is less common

Symptoms in the rectum and throat

Chlamydia can infect the rectum after receptive anal sex. When it causes symptoms, the CDC lists rectal pain, discharge or bleeding. Many rectal infections cause no symptoms.

Chlamydia can also infect the throat after oral sex. A throat infection usually causes no symptoms, according to the CDC.

Symptoms for transgender and nonbinary people

Symptoms depend on the body parts a person has, not on gender identity. A person who has had gender-affirming surgery may still have tissue that can be infected. The CDC advises clinicians to base testing on a person's anatomy and on the kinds of sex they have. A person can tell a clinician what applies to them and what they would like to be called.

When symptoms show up

The CDC does not give one fixed timeline that fits everyone. Some people notice changes within a few weeks of exposure. Many notice nothing. If something feels off, or if a partner has told you they tested positive, a clinician can advise on whether and when to test.

Symptoms that call for prompt care

Seek care soon for any of the following. A clinician or urgent care can evaluate you.

Severe pelvic or lower belly pain
Fever along with pelvic pain or discharge
Painful swelling in a testicle
Symptoms during pregnancy

Who should be screened, and how often

Because chlamydia is so often silent, screening means testing people who have no symptoms. The recommendations differ by group. The CDC and the USPSTF are the main sources.

Women and others with a cervix

The USPSTF recommends screening for chlamydia in sexually active women 24 years and younger. It also recommends screening for women 25 and older who are at increased risk. The CDC recommends yearly screening for sexually active women under 25. It recommends yearly screening for older women with risk factors such as a new partner, more than one partner, or a partner who has an STI.

The CDC applies the same approach to transgender men and nonbinary people who have a cervix, based on their anatomy and sexual history.

Pregnant people

The CDC recommends chlamydia screening at the first prenatal visit for pregnant people under 25 and for older pregnant people at increased risk. A clinician may repeat testing later in pregnancy depending on the situation. Treating chlamydia during pregnancy protects both the pregnant person and the baby, and the clinician chooses a treatment that is appropriate in pregnancy.

Men who have sex with men, and people with HIV

The CDC recommends at least yearly chlamydia screening for sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. The test should cover each place where sex took place, such as the urethra, rectum and throat. The CDC suggests more frequent screening, such as every three to six months, for people with higher chances of exposure, for example those with multiple or anonymous partners. Sexually active people with HIV should also be screened at least yearly, according to the CDC.

Men and women who have sex with women only

The USPSTF reviewed screening for sexually active men and found there was not enough evidence to make a recommendation for or against. The CDC does not recommend routine screening of men who have sex only with women, but it says clinicians should consider it in settings with a high rate of chlamydia, such as STD clinics and correctional facilities.

This does not mean anyone should avoid a test. A person with symptoms, a partner who tested positive, or any question about exposure can ask a clinician about testing at any time.

Anyone with a partner who was diagnosed

A person whose partner was diagnosed with chlamydia should talk with a clinician. The CDC recommends that recent partners be evaluated and treated, often without waiting for their own results.

How chlamydia testing works

The CDC recommends nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for chlamydia. A NAAT looks for the genetic material of the bacteria and is the most sensitive type of test available. Many other STI tests share the same collection steps, so a clinician can often check for more than one infection from a single visit.

What samples are used

Urine. For people with a penis, the CDC recommends a first-catch urine sample. This is the first part of the stream, not the middle.
Vaginal swab. For people with a vagina, the CDC recommends a vaginal swab as the preferred sample. The swab can be collected by a clinician or by the patient in a private room, and the CDC says self-collected swabs perform as well as clinician-collected ones.
Rectal swab. Used after receptive anal sex.
Throat swab. Used after oral sex when a clinician decides it is appropriate.

Testing is quick and does not usually involve a pelvic exam. Clinics usually give instructions at the visit. For urine tests, a clinician may ask that you not have urinated for a short time beforehand.

Timing of a test after exposure

The CDC guidelines do not set one number of days that applies to everyone. Testing very soon after sex may miss an infection that is still early. If you are unsure when to test, ask the clinician. They can tell you whether to test now, test again later, or do both.

Getting results

Results timing depends on the clinic. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County says its results take about one week and are given in person, or by coded text with signed consent. Other clinics may use a patient portal or a phone call. Ask when you are tested how and when you will hear back.

What a positive or negative result can mean

A positive NAAT means the test found chlamydia genetic material, and a clinician will talk through treatment. A negative result means the test did not find it in that sample at that time. Neither result replaces a clinician's judgment. If exposure was very recent, a clinician may suggest testing again.

Home test kits and online services

This guide does not recommend specific brands or mail-in kits. If you want to use any kind of self-collection service, ask a clinician or the health department how the result will be confirmed and how treatment would be arranged.

Is chlamydia curable? Treatment from a clinician

Yes. The CDC says chlamydia is curable with antibiotics. A clinician prescribes the medicine, and the choice depends on the person's health, pregnancy status, allergies and the site of infection.

What to expect from chlamydia treatment

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend a prescribed antibiotic course. A clinician decides which medicine and what length of course fits each person. This guide does not list doses or schedules, because they depend on the individual and can change as guidance is updated.

Tell the clinician about any allergies, other medicines, and whether you are pregnant or could be.
Take the medicine exactly as the clinician prescribes, and finish it.
Ask the clinician how long to wait before having sex again. The CDC advises waiting until treatment is finished and until any partners have also been treated, so that the infection does not pass back and forth.
Call the clinic if symptoms get worse or do not improve, or if you have side effects that worry you.

Do symptoms go away right away?

Symptoms often improve soon after treatment starts. Even if they fade quickly, the medicine still needs to be taken as prescribed. Feeling better is not proof the infection is gone. The test result and the clinician are the guide.

Why a "test of cure" is usually not done

The CDC does not routinely recommend a second test right after treatment, except during pregnancy. A NAAT can pick up leftover genetic material from bacteria that are no longer living. That can produce a positive result that does not mean the infection is still active. A clinician will tell you whether a repeat test is needed in your case.

What about complications?

If chlamydia has already caused PID or epididymitis, a clinician may prescribe a different or longer course of treatment. Treatment can stop further damage, but it cannot undo scarring that has already happened. That is a reason to be tested early, not a reason for worry.

Chlamydia is not the same as an incurable infection

Some infections, such as HIV, herpes and HPV, are treatable or manageable but not curable. Chlamydia is different. It is a bacterial infection, and it can be cured with treatment from a clinician. Being cured does not give lasting protection, though. A person can get chlamydia again if exposed again.

Partners, retesting and prevention

Telling partners

Telling partners can feel awkward. It protects them and it protects you from getting the infection back. The CDC recommends that sex partners from the 60 days before a diagnosis, or before symptoms began, be evaluated, tested and treated. If the most recent sexual contact was more than 60 days earlier, the most recent partner should be treated.

You can say it plainly: "I tested positive for chlamydia and I'm being treated. It's common and curable. I'd like you to get checked too." The Florida Department of Health in Orange County and many clinics can help with partner notification, including anonymous notification. Ask at your visit.

Expedited partner therapy (EPT) in Florida

In some situations, a clinician can give a patient treatment or a prescription to deliver to a partner without a separate visit by that partner. This is called expedited partner therapy, or EPT. The CDC lists Florida as a state where EPT is permitted under Fla. Stat. s. 384.27, effective July 1, 2016.

According to the CDC's page on EPT in Florida, the conditions are:

The patient has a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis or a suspected clinical diagnosis of an STD.
The patient has a partner with whom they had sexual activity.
The partner is unable or unlikely to seek clinical services in a timely manner.

Whether EPT is offered is the clinician's decision. It is not a substitute for a partner being seen by a clinician. A partner who is pregnant, has symptoms, or has other health concerns should be examined in person. Ask the clinician whether EPT applies to your situation.

Retesting at three months

The CDC recommends that everyone who is treated for chlamydia be retested about three months after treatment. Repeat infections are common, often because a partner was not treated or a new exposure occurred. Retesting finds those infections early, which matters because repeat infections raise the risk of complications such as PID.

If you cannot retest at three months, the CDC advises testing whenever you next get care in the 12 months after treatment. Pregnant people are retested on a different timeline, which a clinician will set.

Preventing chlamydia

The CDC lists these ways to lower the chance of getting or passing on chlamydia:

Use condoms or dental dams correctly every time during vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Get tested regularly if you are in a group for whom screening is recommended, and ask partners to do the same.
Talk about testing with new partners before having sex.
Wait until treatment is finished, and partners have been treated, before having sex again.

Doxy-PEP: what the 2024 CDC update says

In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, or doxy-PEP. It is an antibiotic a clinician can prescribe to be taken after sex to lower the chance of certain bacterial STIs. The CDC recommends that clinicians discuss it with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and with transgender women, who had a bacterial STI in the past 12 months.

The CDC says doxy-PEP lowered chlamydia and syphilis infections in studies and lowered gonorrhea infections less. It does not prevent HIV or other viral infections. It also does not replace regular testing. It must be prescribed, and a clinician explains how to use it. Anyone interested can ask about it at a visit.

Chlamydia and other infections

Chlamydia and gonorrhea often occur together, and a clinician may test for both. Many clinics also offer HIV and syphilis testing at the same visit. Ask what a visit includes so you can choose what to be tested for.

Chlamydia in Orlando: numbers, laws and where to get tested

What the numbers say

FLHealthCHARTS, run by the Florida Department of Health, reports 2025 figures for Orange County. No Orlando-only figure was found, so county numbers are the best available picture for the city.

Measure (2025)	Orange County	Florida
Chlamydia	516.7 per 100,000 (7,937 cases)	410.8 per 100,000 (96,044 cases)
Gonorrhea	193.7 per 100,000 (2,975 cases)	156.5 per 100,000 (36,596 cases)

Orange County's chlamydia rate is higher than the statewide rate. These are reported cases, which depend on how many people are tested. Chlamydia is often silent, so the true number of infections is likely higher than the number reported.

The takeaway is practical. Chlamydia is common here, testing is available, and treatment works.

Where to get tested in Orlando

Options differ in cost, whether you need an appointment, and which tests they offer. For a fuller comparison, see our guide to STD testing in Orlando, where to get tested and what it costs. You can also see the local testing list. Call ahead, since hours and services change.

Florida Department of Health in Orange County STD Clinic

The county's STD clinic is at the Central Health Center, Building 1, 832 West Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32805. The phone number is 407-858-1400, which is also the number for scheduling an appointment.

The county's STD page says testing is low or no cost for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.
The page says clinic fees "range from $20 and up" and are on a sliding scale after an eligibility screening. Payment can be cash, card, Medicaid or Medicare.
The clinic is walk-in and first come, first served. A picture ID is required.
The county page lists hours of Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed 12 to 1 p.m. for lunch. Other county pages have listed different hours, so call 407-858-1400 to confirm before you go.
Results take about one week.

The county page also lists treatment as a service, so a clinician can address a positive result at the same clinic.

Florida Department of Health in Orange County, Lila Mitchell Health Center

This site is at 5151 Raleigh St, Ste B, Orlando, FL 32811. The CDC GetTested listing shows chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV tests, a sliding scale, and that insurance, Medicaid and Medicare are accepted. An appointment is required. The number is (407) 723-5004. The listing does not give hours, so ask when you call.

The Center Orlando

The Center Orlando, an LGBTQ+ community center, is at 942 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803. Its testing information page says all sexual health testing is walk-in only. STI testing is provided through NPS Healthcare.

The page lists chlamydia and gonorrhea testing at $50, syphilis at $15, and a bundle of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea at $55. HIV and hepatitis C testing are listed at $0.
Testing hours on its homepage are Monday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday closed, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A phone number was not listed in the sources reviewed, so check the center's website for contact details.

Hope and Help Center of Central Florida (Winter Park)

Hope and Help is at 4122 Metric Dr, #800, Winter Park, FL 32792. It is in Orange County, just outside Orlando city limits, and serves the Orlando area. The phone number is (407) 645-2577.

Its testing page lists chlamydia among its tests and says testing is free. It accepts most major insurances, and income-based self-pay options can be arranged.
The page says no appointment is necessary. Testing runs Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The page contains some copy errors in its test descriptions, so confirm the tests you want by phone.

Miracle of Love

Miracle of Love is an HIV and AIDS nonprofit with two Orlando screening sites. The Executive Office is at 1301 W Colonial Dr, Ste 201 (phone (407) 843-1760), and Stafford House is at 711 Seminole Ave (phone (407) 532-0070). Its Test and Treat page says it does not perform swabs for gonorrhea or chlamydia and points swab testing to the Department of Health. The CDC GetTested listing, however, lists chlamydia tests at the Executive Office. Call before you go to confirm which tests are done on site. Miracle of Love is also a good option if you want HIV testing or PrEP and PEP information.

Orange Blossom Family Health

Orange Blossom Family Health is a federally qualified health center at 232 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32805, phone 407-428-5751. The CDC GetTested listing shows chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and rapid HIV tests, with insurance and Medicaid accepted. Its own website says fees follow a sliding scale based on household income and that no patient is turned away because of inability to pay. Appointments are required, and the listing gives no hours.

AHF Healthcare Center and Planned Parenthood

AIDS Healthcare Foundation opened a site at 707 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando. An AHF release from September 2025 says it offers free STD and STI prevention and treatment services, and its hours are listed as Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A phone number was not found, so check AHF's website before going.

Planned Parenthood's East Orlando Health Center is at 11500 University Blvd, Ste B, Orlando, FL 32817, phone 407-246-1788. A CDC listing shows chlamydia testing and says an appointment is required. Hours and costs were not confirmed on Planned Parenthood's own site, so call to verify them.

How to find more options

The CDC runs a national locator at gettested.cdc.gov. It lists STD testing sites by ZIP code, and many entries show whether a site offers free or low-cost testing. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County also posts information on its STD clinic page.

Tips for your visit

Bring a photo ID and any insurance card. If you do not have insurance, ask about a sliding scale.
Ask what is included in the visit, and whether treatment is given on site if a result is positive.
Say where sex has taken place, because the clinician may want to test the throat or rectum as well as the genitals.
Ask how you will get results and who to call with questions.

Florida rules that affect chlamydia care

Minors can get care without a parent's consent. Fla. Stat. s. 384.30(1) says the consent of a parent or guardian is not a prerequisite for a minor to be examined or treated for a sexually transmissible disease. The statute states no minimum age. Under s. 384.30(2), the fact of a minor's consultation, examination and treatment is confidential. It may not be shared, including by sending a bill to a parent or guardian, except as provided in s. 384.29 (Florida Legislature, Online Sunshine).

Chlamydia is reportable. Fla. Stat. s. 381.0031(2) requires licensed practitioners, hospitals and certified laboratories to report diseases of public health significance to the Department of Health. Rule 64D-3.029 of the Florida Administrative Code lists chlamydia as reportable. Reporting lets public health staff track infection and connect people to partner services. Since July 1, 2024, the Orange County STD Department handles STD and STI surveillance for county residents, according to the Florida Department of Health in Orange County.

Telling partners. Fla. Stat. s. 384.24(1) applies to a list of infections that includes chlamydia. It makes it unlawful for a person who knows they have one of these infections, and has been told they can transmit it, to have sex with someone who has not been informed and consented. A violation is a first-degree misdemeanor under s. 384.34(1). In practical terms, a clinician can explain how this applies and can help with notifying partners.

Pregnancy. Under Fla. Stat. s. 384.31 and Rule 64D-3.042, practitioners who provide prenatal care must test for sexually transmissible diseases at the first prenatal exam and again at 28 to 32 weeks, unless the patient signs a written objection. The rule's exact list of tests is set by the Department of Health, so ask your prenatal clinician whether chlamydia testing is part of your care.

If cost or privacy is a worry

Several Orlando options are free or sliding scale, as described above. Tests at public health clinics are confidential. If you are a minor, state law protects your visit as described above. If you are on a parent's insurance, ask the clinic how statements are handled before you use that coverage.

A short checklist

Decide whether you are in a group for whom screening is recommended, or whether you have symptoms or a partner who was diagnosed.
Call a clinic to confirm hours, cost and whether you need an appointment.
Get tested, and ask how you will hear about results.
If the result is positive, take the medicine your clinician prescribes exactly as directed.
Tell recent partners, and ask about EPT if it fits.
Wait to have sex until the clinician says it is safe, then plan a retest at about three months.

Chlamydia is common, usually silent and curable. Testing is the step that makes everything else possible, and Orlando has several free and low-cost ways to do it.

Chlamydia: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Orlando