Can You Get Chlamydia from Kissing?

"It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?" - The Killers

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Is there an expression of romance and love more universal than a kiss? After all, a kiss after wedding vows is a tradition that dates as far back as Ancient Rome. Even more so, throughout history, everything from music, poetry, movies, to little chocolate candies have all been created to celebrate this romantic and human expression of love. 

So, you’re probably wondering what chlamydia, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI), and kissing have to do with one another? 

Unfortunately, misinformation about STIs and how they are transmitted can lead many people to miss out on healthy expressions of love, like kissing. To clear up some facts, here is a breakdown of how chlamydia spreads, common symptoms, and how you can get tested.  

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What is Chlamydia? 

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is the most commonly reported STI in the United States. Even so, many cases go unreported because often, there are no symptoms.

Chlamydia can infect both women and men. Untreated chlamydia can cause life-threatening harm.

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How Does Chlamydia Spread? 

Chlamydia is spread by having sex without a condom or other barrier method with a partner who has it. This can include: 

• Unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex 
• Sharing sex toys without properly cleaning them beforehand
• Infected semen or vaginal fluid getting into the eye
• Genital contact between partners  

Pregnant women can also pass chlamydia to their baby. 

As we mentioned, a common misconception about chlamydia is that it is transmittable through kissing. This is absolutely false. Chlamydia cannot be spread through casual contact, including kissing. This also includes casual contact like sharing a towel, toilet seats, hugging, swimming pools, or the sharing of eating utensils. 

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Chlamydia cannot be spread through casual contact, including kissing.

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Symptoms of Chlamydia 

Chlamydia is often referred to as the “silent” infection because it doesn’t always cause symptoms, so it’s possible to be infected and to pass it on to your partner without realizing it. When chlamydia does cause symptoms, they may include the following in women:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor
• Painful periods
• Bleeding between periods
• Painful urination
• An itching or burning sensation in or around your vagina
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In men, chlamydia may cause the following symptoms:

• Painful urination
• Genital pain
• Abnormal discharge from the tip of the penis
• Abdominal pain

Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can cause serious health problems down the road. You can take an at-home chlamydia test if you’re worried that you might have some of the above symptoms, or if you want to routinely check your sexual health.

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When Should I Consider Getting a Chlamydia Test?

Bear in mind that often, chlamydia has no symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men and women who are sexually active and have multiple sexual partners should be tested for chlamydia, and other common STIs, every year.

For your peace of mind, and to maintain your sexual health, you may also wish to get screened for other common sexually transmitted diseases at the same time. Other common tests include trichomoniasis, herpes, hepatitis C, syphilis, as well as HIV tests, and gonorrhea tests.

Want to learn more about Chlamydia tests and how to find the best at-home option? We covered the topic in depth here.

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Check for Chlamydia and Other STDs at Home with Getlabs

If you are sexually active and have multiple partners, it’s important to maintain your sexual health by having regular tests for common STIs.

Getlabs can provide you with collection services for more than 5,000 sample tests. It is easy, safe, and completely confidential. All you need to do is book an appointment online and a trained phlebotomist will visit your home, take a sample of your blood, and take it to a local lab for testing.

If you have questions about how it works, go to getlabs.com/faqs to learn more.