Chlamydia (1+ years) Because people infected with chlamydia often show no symptoms, it's sometimes called a “silent” infection. However, even when chlamydia is asymptomatic, it can spread during unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact.
Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in women under 25 and is known as a “silent” infection, since most people never experience symptoms.
Some STDs have symptoms, but many don't, so they can go unnoticed for a long time. For example, it can take more than 10 years for HIV symptoms to show up, and infections like herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea can be spread even if there are no symptoms.
Common STDs that have a long latency period include chlamydia, hepatitis C, HIV, and HSV. However, syphilis may have an even longer latency period. Some studies even show that some people can harbor undetected syphilis for nearly 20 years.
Several of the more than 20 types of STDs can lie dormant for months, years, or even decades. Dormant STDs and STIs highlight the importance of sexual health testing, as only a test can determine if an asymptomatic infection is present.
Although some symptoms can appear within weeks of contact, there have been reports of chlamydia remaining dormant for over twenty years. If you have had recent sexual contact and wonder about chlamydia infections, don't hesitate to test.
This leads us to our question of the day –– can chlamydia be dormant and undetected? There are two parts to the answer. First, yes, chlamydia can lie unnoticed for long periods of time. However, even if chlamydia remains asymptomatic, tests can still detect its presence.
Although chlamydia is highly contagious, it does not always transmit to a person's sexual partners. It is also possible to have a false-negative test result. Having more frequent sex with a partner who has chlamydia may increase a person's risk of contracting it.
Most people who have chlamydia don't notice any symptoms.
If you do get symptoms, these usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. For some people they don't develop until many months later. Sometimes the symptoms can disappear after a few days.
The most important STD to test for in this regard is HIV, which can lie dormant for many years. Anyone who has ever had unprotected sex should consider getting this blood test.
It depends on which sexually transmitted infection (STI) you have. Symptoms can develop within a few days or weeks, but sometimes they do not appear until months or even years later.
3 The only way to tell which one you have—or if you have an STI at all—is to go visit your local healthcare provider or a free clinic and get tested. There is no way for someone to self-diagnose what STI is causing a discharge without having a laboratory test done.
Chlamydia is known as a “silent” infection because most infected people have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they may not appear until several weeks after exposure. Even when it causes no symptoms, chlamydia can damage a woman's reproductive organs.
Some viral STDs stay with you for life, such as herpes and HIV. Others, such as hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV), can be prevented with vaccines but cannot be cured.
It's quite another to learn you have an STI while you're in a monogamous relationship. If you have been totally faithful, you may assume that your partner acquired the infection while being unfaithful. Though it's possible they may have been intimate with someone else, it's also possible they never cheated at all.
Apart from being infected at birth you can not catch chlamydia without performing some form of sexual act. However, you don't have to have penetrative sex to get infected, it is enough if your genitals come in contact with an infected person's sexual fluids (for example if your genitals touch).
Only Three STIs Are Transmitted Sexually Every Time
That may be the case, of course, but it's also possible to contract several STIs without infidelity, and in some cases, without any sexual contact. Only three STIs are transmitted exclusively sexually: gonorrhea, syphilis, and genital warts.
Some people avoid STI screening due to the discomfort or embarrassment of having a genital swab. But, today many STIs can be diagnosed with blood tests, including genital herpes, HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Even so, STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis require a swab for diagnosis.
Complications from untreated gonorrhea include pelvic inflammatory disease or epididymitis. Early treatment can help prevent such complications. Can gonorrhea be dormant for 20 years? No.
If you recently tested negative for an infection but are still experiencing symptoms, consider getting tested again. STIs can be dangerous to your well-being if left undetected and untreated. When it comes to your sexual health, prioritize testing and visit an urgent care center at your convenience.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms can occur within 2-14 days after infection. However, a person may have chlamydia for months, or even years, without knowing it.
Late-stage chlamydia refers to an infection that has spread to other parts of the body. For example, it may have spread to the cervix (cervicitis), testicular tubes (epididymitis), eyes (conjunctivitis), or throat (pharyngitis), causing inflammation and pain.
An untreated chlamydia infection can persist for several years. Although this goes for both men and women, it is believed that men are less likely to carry the bacteria for several years. If you remain infected for a long time you have an increased risk of complications.