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 (STIs) in the United States. It is also one of the easiest to treat. The hard part is that it often gives no signals at all, so many people only learn about it through a test.

This guide explains how chlamydia spreads, what symptoms can look like, who is advised to test and how often, what testing involves, and how treatment works. It also covers Florida rules on privacy, minors and partner treatment, and where to get tested in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, including free options.

The information follows the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021), later CDC updates, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Florida statutes and health department sources.

Key takeaways

Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, according to the CDC. A test is the only way to find out.
The CDC recommends yearly screening for sexually active women under 25, women 25 and older with risk factors, and men who have sex with men. The USPSTF recommends screening for sexually active women 24 and younger and for older women at increased risk.
Testing is usually a urine sample or a swab, using a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).
Is chlamydia curable? Yes. A clinician prescribes antibiotics, and the infection can be cured.
The CDC advises retesting about three months after treatment, and treating recent partners so the infection does not pass back and forth.
In Fort Lauderdale, the Florida Department of Health in Broward County runs a free walk-in STI clinic at the Broward Wellness Center. Other free and sliding-scale options are listed below.

In this guide

What chlamydia is and how it spreads
Symptoms of chlamydia
Who should be tested, and how often
How chlamydia testing works
Is chlamydia curable? Chlamydia treatment explained
Partners, retesting and expedited partner therapy
Getting tested in Fort Lauderdale
Florida rules on privacy, minors, pregnancy and reporting

What chlamydia is and how it spreads

Chlamydia is caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. Because it is bacterial, it responds to antibiotics. This is why chlamydia is curable, unlike viral infections such as HIV or herpes.

How chlamydia is passed on

The CDC says chlamydia spreads through vaginal, anal or oral sex with a person who has the infection. Ejaculation does not have to happen for it to pass between partners.

It can also pass from a pregnant person to a baby during vaginal birth. This is one reason prenatal testing matters, and it is covered later in this guide.

Chlamydia does not spread through toilet seats, hugging, sharing food or casual contact.

Where the infection can be

Chlamydia can infect the cervix, urethra, rectum and throat. Which sites are involved depends on the kind of sex a person has had. This matters for testing, because a urine sample alone does not check every site. A clinician can explain which samples make sense for your situation.

Anyone can get it

Chlamydia affects people of every gender, age and sexual orientation. Getting it says nothing about a person's character. It is a common infection, and it is common because it so often goes unnoticed.

Symptoms of chlamydia

The CDC states that most people with chlamydia do not have symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may show up weeks after exposure, and they are easy to mistake for something else, such as a urinary tract infection.

Only a test can show whether chlamydia is present. Symptoms alone cannot confirm or rule it out.

Possible symptoms in people with a vagina or cervix

According to the CDC, symptoms can include:

An unusual vaginal discharge
A burning feeling when urinating
Pain during sex
Bleeding between periods or after sex
Lower belly pain

Possible symptoms in people with a penis

According to the CDC, symptoms can include:

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

Possible symptoms in the rectum or throat

Rectal chlamydia can cause rectal pain, discharge or bleeding, though many people notice nothing. Chlamydia in the throat usually causes no symptoms. Because these sites often stay quiet, clinicians may suggest swabs from them based on the kinds of sex a person has had.

Why "no symptoms" does not mean "nothing is happening"

The CDC explains that untreated chlamydia can lead to complications even when it causes no symptoms at all.

In women: the infection can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to long-term pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and difficulty getting pregnant.
In men: the infection can cause painful swelling near the testicles (epididymitis). Complications that affect fertility are uncommon.
In babies: a baby exposed during birth can develop eye infections or pneumonia.

These outcomes are the reason screening exists. Finding and treating chlamydia early is the best way to avoid them, and treatment is straightforward.

When to see a clinician sooner

Anyone with symptoms such as discharge, burning with urination, pelvic or testicular pain, or pain during sex should be seen by a clinician. These symptoms can have many causes, and a clinician can examine you and order the right tests. Severe lower belly pain, fever or pain with sex are good reasons to be seen promptly.

Who should be tested, and how often

Because symptoms are unreliable, screening guidelines are based on who is more likely to be affected. Screening means testing a person who feels fine.

CDC screening recommendations

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend:

Sexually active women under 25: screening every year.
Women 25 and older with risk factors: yearly screening. Risk factors include a new sex partner, more than one partner, a partner with multiple partners, or a partner who has an STI.
Men who have sex with men: screening at least once a year at each site of exposure. The CDC says more frequent screening, such as every three to six months, may be useful for people at increased risk.
Transgender and gender-diverse people: screening based on the anatomy they have and the kinds of sex they have, rather than on gender identity.
Pregnant people: screening at the first prenatal visit if under 25 or at increased risk, with retesting in the third trimester for those at continued risk.
People with HIV: screening at the first visit and then at least yearly, depending on risk.

USPSTF recommendations

The USPSTF recommends screening for chlamydia in all sexually active women 24 years or younger, and in women 25 and older who are at increased risk. For men, the USPSTF has said the evidence is not sufficient to make a recommendation for screening in people at lower risk. The CDC guidance for men who have sex with men still applies.

Other reasons to be tested

Regardless of age or screening category, a test makes sense in situations like these:

A partner has told you they have chlamydia or another STI.
You have symptoms.
You are starting a new relationship and want to know your status together.
You have had condomless sex with a new or casual partner.

If you are unsure which category applies to you, a clinician can walk through it. No one at an STI clinic needs you to justify wanting a test.

Doxy-PEP and chlamydia

In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex, called doxy-PEP. The CDC recommends that clinicians discuss it with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and with transgender women, who have had a bacterial STI in the past 12 months. Studies cited by the CDC show it lowers the chance of chlamydia and syphilis in these groups. Whether it is right for a person is a decision with a clinician, who prescribes it and monitors testing alongside it.

How chlamydia testing works

The CDC recommends nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for chlamydia. NAATs look for the genetic material of the bacterium in a sample. They are the most sensitive tests available for this infection.

What samples are used

Depending on your anatomy and the kind of sex you have had, a clinic may collect one or more of these:

Urine: a first-catch sample, meaning the first part of the stream. The CDC notes that people with a penis are often asked not to urinate for a short time before the test.
Vaginal swab: the CDC lists this as the preferred sample for people with a vagina. It can be collected by a clinician or by the patient in private.
Rectal swab: for people who have had receptive anal sex.
Throat swab: for people who have had oral sex, where a clinician considers it appropriate.

Many people are surprised by how quick and simple this is. Self-collected swabs are accurate, and you do not need a pelvic exam just to be tested.

When to test after a possible exposure

Timing matters because a test taken too soon after exposure may not detect an infection. The CDC guidelines do not set a single universal window for every situation, so ask the clinician when to test based on your exposure. If you test early, they may suggest testing again later.

Testing for other infections at the same visit

Chlamydia often travels with other infections, and gonorrhea in particular is commonly tested together with it. The CDC also recommends that anyone being tested for an STI consider HIV and syphilis testing. At a clinic, ask what a full panel includes and which tests fit your history.

Getting results

Turnaround depends on the clinic and the lab. Ask when you check in how and when you will be told results, and whether you will be contacted by phone, portal or in person. A positive result is not an emergency. It is a prompt to start treatment.

What a positive result means

A positive NAAT means the test found chlamydia, and a clinician will talk with you about treatment. It does not say how long the infection has been there or who it came from. A negative result is reassuring for the time of the test, but it reflects only that moment, so later exposures still matter.

Is chlamydia curable? Chlamydia treatment explained

Yes. Chlamydia is curable. The CDC states that chlamydia can be cured with the right antibiotics, prescribed by a clinician.

What clinicians prescribe

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) list doxycycline as the recommended antibiotic for chlamydia in most adults. The guidelines list other antibiotics as alternatives, and a clinician may choose one of those depending on allergies, pregnancy or other health factors. Which antibiotic and how it is taken is decided by the clinician who treats you, and the pharmacy label and your clinician's instructions are what to follow.

Do not use leftover antibiotics or a partner's prescription. The wrong medicine, or a partial course, may not clear the infection and can make later treatment harder.

Treatment in pregnancy

Some antibiotics are not used during pregnancy. The CDC guidelines list a different recommended antibiotic for pregnant people, and clinicians usually recheck with a test about four weeks after treatment to make sure the infection has cleared. A prenatal care provider will guide this.

While you are being treated

The CDC advises people to avoid sex until treatment is completed and until their partners have also been treated. For most people, that means waiting 7 days after treatment is complete, as the CDC advises. Sex before then risks passing the infection on or getting it again.

Many people feel better within days if they had symptoms, but finishing the full course matters even after symptoms ease.

Does treatment fix complications?

Treatment clears the infection. It cannot undo scarring that has already happened, which is why finding chlamydia early matters. If you have had pelvic pain or fertility concerns, tell your clinician. They can evaluate you for PID or other complications.

Can you get chlamydia again?

Yes. Being treated once does not make a person immune. Reinfection is common, most often from an untreated partner. That is the reason for the retesting and partner steps in the next section.

Partners, retesting and expedited partner therapy

Retesting about three months after treatment

The CDC recommends that anyone treated for chlamydia be retested about three months after treatment, whether or not they think their partners were treated. The point is to catch reinfection, which is common. If you cannot be retested at three months, the CDC advises testing whenever you next see a clinician within the first year.

A routine test to confirm cure right after treatment is generally not needed, except during pregnancy, as noted above, or in other situations a clinician identifies.

Telling partners

This can be the hardest part. It may help to know that it is a standard step and not an accusation. Chlamydia often has no symptoms, so partners usually have no idea. A short, factual message works well, such as: "I tested positive for chlamydia. You may want to get tested and treated."

The CDC advises that recent sex partners be evaluated, tested and treated. For chlamydia, that generally means partners from the 60 days before symptoms began or before the test was taken. If you had no recent partners in that period, the most recent partner should be told.

If talking to partners feels difficult or unsafe, the DOH-Broward STD clinic page says confidential counseling and partner notification are available. Ask staff what help they offer.

Expedited partner therapy in Florida

Expedited partner therapy (EPT) lets a clinician provide treatment for a patient's partner without first examining that partner. Florida allows it. Under Fla. Stat. 384.27(7), as published by the Florida Legislature, practitioners licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459 or section 464.012 may provide EPT when:

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

The statute also says a licensed pharmacist may dispense medication for the partner under a prescription.

EPT is meant for partners who truly cannot get to a clinic, and it is not a replacement for care. The CDC notes that partners are still encouraged to be seen, especially for testing for other infections. Ask your clinician whether EPT applies to your situation.

Protecting yourself going forward

Condoms and dental dams, used consistently and correctly, lower the chance of passing or getting chlamydia, according to the CDC. Regular testing, and talking with partners about testing, also help. For some groups, the doxy-PEP guidance above may be an added option to discuss with a clinician.

Getting tested in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has free and low-cost options for chlamydia testing and treatment. For a broader list with more detail, see our guide to STD testing locations in Fort Lauderdale. Always call ahead, since hours and policies can change.

How common is chlamydia here?

Local numbers show why screening matters. These come from secondary sources that cite CDC surveillance data, and the figures are rates, not predictions for any one person.

Florida, 2023: a chlamydia rate of 498.9 per 100,000 people, or 112,804 cases, according to testing.com's Florida directory citing CDC 2023 surveillance data.
Broward County, 2021: a chlamydia rate of 524.9 per 100,000 people, or 10,136 cases, according to a Stacker report published by 352today that cites CDC 2021 county data.

The Broward figure is from 2021, so more recent county numbers may differ. The Florida Department of Health in Broward County is the best source for current local data.

Clinics and testing sites

Site	Address and phone	Cost and access
Broward Wellness Center (DOH-Broward free walk-in STI clinic)	750 SE 3rd Ave., 1st Floor, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. 954-767-0273	Free, walk-in. Offers testing, diagnosis and treatment.
Fort Lauderdale Health Center (DOH-Broward)	2421 SW 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. 954-467-4700	Free tests listed. Appointment required. Accepts insurance, Medicaid and sliding scale, per the CDC directory listing.
Care Resource Fort Lauderdale	871 W Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. (954) 567-7141	Sliding-scale fees. Appointment not required, per the CDC GetTested listing.
CAN Community Health Fort Lauderdale	315 S.E. 14th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316. (754) 701-6920	Lists STD testing and treatment. The page does not state cost or walk-in policy, so ask the clinic.
Planned Parenthood Pembroke Pines Health Center	263 N University Dr, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024. (954) 989-5747	Located in Pembroke Pines, not in Fort Lauderdale. Appointment not required, per the CDC listing. Contact the center about eligibility and cost.

The DOH-Broward free walk-in clinic

The Florida Department of Health in Broward County says its STD clinic offers free walk-in STI testing, diagnosis and treatment, including no-cost chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV testing. Services are provided through a contracted provider at the Broward Wellness Center. The department also lists confidential counseling and partner notification.

The department's page lists these hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The clinic is closed Saturday and Sunday. Visitors are asked to sign in one hour before closing.

Other versions of the department's pages list different hours, so confirm by phone before you go. The numbers on the DOH-Broward page are the STD Line at 954-298-6585, the Broward Wellness Center at 954-767-0273, and the main line at 954-467-4700.

Other places that may offer testing

Fort Lauderdale Health Center. This listing comes from the CDC's NPIN directory, not the health department site, so confirm details by phone. It lists hours of Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and says hours for HIV testing vary.

Care Resource. The CDC GetTested listing says the clinic accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, uses sliding-scale fees, and lists tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and HIV. It does not list hours, so call.

CAN Community Health. The clinic lists hours of Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Its page does not state a price, so ask when you call.

Planned Parenthood Pembroke Pines. This center is a short trip from Fort Lauderdale. The CDC listing says insurance and Medicaid are accepted and to contact the organization for eligibility.

Find more options

The CDC's GetTested tool at gettested.cdc.gov lets you search for testing sites by ZIP code. It is a good way to check what other sites list.

DOH-Broward also offers free HIV and syphilis self-testing kits, which you can request by calling 954-847-8132 or using the request form on the department's HIV counseling and testing page. The page names HIV and syphilis kits, so ask whether chlamydia testing needs a clinic visit.

What to expect at a visit

Check in and answer questions about symptoms, partners and the kinds of sex you have had. Staff ask so they can choose the right samples. Answer as openly as you are comfortable doing.
Give a urine sample or a swab, often in private.
Ask when and how results will arrive, and what happens if treatment is needed.
If you are treated, ask about retesting in three months and about your partners.

No one at a public health clinic is there to judge you. These clinics see people for STI care every day.

Florida rules on privacy, minors, pregnancy and reporting

Minors can get care without a parent

Under Fla. Stat. 384.30(1), as published by the Florida Legislature, the Department of Health, licensed physicians, certain licensed nurses acting within their license, and public or private hospitals, clinics and other health facilities may examine and treat minors for sexually transmissible diseases without parental consent. The statute states no minimum age.

Under Fla. Stat. 384.30(2), a minor's consultation, examination and treatment for an STD is confidential. It must not be disclosed directly or indirectly, such as by sending a bill to a parent or guardian, except as provided in section 384.29.

Prenatal testing

Fla. Stat. 384.31 requires anyone attending a pregnant woman for prenatal care to arrange testing for sexually transmissible infections, including HIV, under Department of Health rule. The patient has the right to decline in writing.

Under Rule 64D-3.042 of the Florida Administrative Code, testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis takes place at the initial prenatal exam and again at 28 to 32 weeks of pregnancy. The rule also treats women who appear at delivery, or within 30 days after birth, with no prenatal care or no testing record after the 27th week as higher risk, and they are tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, HIV and syphilis before discharge.

Ask your prenatal provider which tests are planned for you.

Reporting to the health department

Under Fla. Stat. 384.25(1), anyone who diagnoses or treats a sexually transmissible disease, and any laboratory with a positive result, must report it to the Department of Health within the period set by rule, not to exceed two weeks. This is routine public health reporting. It is how the department tracks infections and offers partner services. It does not mean results are shared with employers or family.

If you have questions about how your information is handled, ask the clinic or the Florida Department of Health in Broward County.

Telling partners and the law

Florida law, in Fla. Stat. 384.24(1), makes it unlawful for a person who has a listed sexually transmissible disease, knows of the infection and has been informed it can spread sexually, to have sexual intercourse with another person unless that person has been informed and consented. The penalty is not stated on the page of the statute reviewed. If you have legal questions, a licensed attorney can advise you. For most people, the practical point is simple: tell partners, get treated and wait until treatment is complete.

A calm next step

If it has been a while since your last test, or you are not sure, a visit takes little time. Chlamydia is common, curable and well understood. Free testing is available in Fort Lauderdale, and the people who work there do this every day.

Chlamydia: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Fort Lauderdale