Chlamydia can it spread to the throat? Chlamydia, one of the most prevalent STIs in the United States, can infect one’s throat in addition to other body areas like the genitals or rectum, thus the answer to that question is “yes” (known as a pharyngeal chlamydia infection).

What results in throat chlamydia?

During oral sex with a sexual partner who is infected, the chlamydia bacterium can spread to the throat and cause a pharyngeal infection. Additionally, the virus can be transferred from one’s genitals to the mouth of an infected partner.

How widespread is pharyngeal chlamydia, or chlamydia in the throat?

Chlamydia pharyngitis is less frequent than urogenital or rectal infections. Based on study populations at high-risk settings like sexually transmitted disease clinics (which means these numbers don’t apply to the general population), one review of previous studies found that pharyngeal chlamydia was equally common in women compared to men who have sex with men, occurring in up to 3.2 percent of women and 3.6 percent of men. The prevalence of pharyngeal chlamydia in men who have female sexual partners has received less attention from researchers.

What throat chlamydia symptoms are there?

When oral chlamydia (chlamydia in the throat) is contracted, many people experience no symptoms. Some people may merely have a sore throat and mistakenly believe they are sick with the flu or a cold. Mouth pain, oral sores (canker sores in the mouth), and throat pain when swallowing are further signs of a pharyngeal infection with chlamydia bacterium. Chlamydia lumps have occasionally been observed on the tongue as well. It is advised that you see a doctor right away if you notice any white patches on the back of your throat.

What does throat chlamydia look like?

The tonsils or the back of the throat may develop white spots as a result of chlamydia in the throat. It could be a good idea to get tested for chlamydia even if you have swollen tonsils and other signs of strep throat. These white patches, which are brought on by a bacterial infection, may resemble tonsillitis.

Inflamed Vulvar Tissue

An illness known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) affects the female reproductive system, specifically the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. When a gonorrhea or chlamydia infection in the cervix spreads to these organs, it frequently happens. Abdominal pain, unusual vaginal discharge, unusual bleeding, fever, and difficult urination are a few symptoms that can occur. PID if untreated may eventually lead to infertility or other health issues.

Looking For Medical Help

Ask your doctor if testing for chlamydia in the throat is advised if you have a painful throat that doesn’t seem to get better or you observe white patches in the back of your throat. A throat swab is frequently taken as part of the pharyngeal chlamydia test, and it is then examined for signs of this bacterial infection. It’s critical that you be tested right away if you have unprotected intercourse with an infected person. In actuality, your symptoms can resemble strep throat. Talk to your doctor about getting tested for an STD if you’ve already taken a strep test and your symptoms are still present.

Your doctor may suggest antibiotics (typically taken orally) to treat the sexually transmitted infection if chlamydia is found. Chlamydia in the throat or genital region may be treated with the same type of medications.

Common Inquiries

How can you tell if your throat has chlamydia?

Many patients with throat chlamydia exhibit no symptoms. You may only get tested by a healthcare professional to find out for sure if you have this sexually transmitted virus in the throat. A persistent painful throat accompanied by a low-grade fever, enlarged lymph nodes, oral canker sores, or white spots in the back of the throat are all indications that you may have oral chlamydia.

Sometimes, these chlamydia symptoms can be mistaken for strep throat or another type of throat infection. Because of this, being tested for STDs is crucial. If you think you may have an oral sexually transmitted disease, go to your doctor right away.

Chlamydia can it be found in the mouth?

The oropharynx, a portion of the throat located behind the mouth, is known to be infected by chlamydia. In other words, chlamydia can theoretically spread through the neck rather than the mouth. However, during specific sexual behaviors like oral sex, chlamydia in both women and men can be spread through the mouth of an infected partner.

How can oral chlamydia be prevented?

Use condoms during all forms of sex, including oral sex, to regularly engage in safe sex and reduce your risk of acquiring STIs like chlamydia from a sex partner. It’s crucial to frequently test for STIs, especially if you think you may have had contact with someone who is infected. Routine STI testing can be an effective approach to identify an oral chlamydial infection early on—before it has spread to others or negatively impacted your health—even if it may not directly prevent you from developing oral chlamydia. If you suspect you may have chlamydia or if you test positive, be careful to contact your healthcare practitioner as soon as you can because untreated chlamydia raises the risk of long-term health consequences.