Can You Be Immune to Chlamydia?

Misinformation about STDs causes many preventable infections. Some people believe they won’t catch an STD like chlamydia if they’ve had it in the past. Others believe they’re protected if they only perform “safer” sexual acts, such as oral sex.

Can you be immune to chlamydia? Unfortunately, catching chlamydia will not provide immunity. Chlamydia can recur if you don’t treat it with antibiotics or if you are intimate with someone who has an untreated infection. However, chlamydia is not a permanent STD, and you can clear up the infection with treatment prescribed by a doctor.

How Chlamydia Spreads

Chlamydia is an STD that comes from the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, mainly impacting the epithelial cells of your skin, organs, and urinary tract. Unfortunately, chlamydia is one of the most common STDs, and the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 4 million infections occurred in 2020. The disease transmits easily, especially through vaginal and anal sex. 

Can chlamydia develop on its own? The good news is that chlamydia can only spread from partner to partner; you cannot develop it from your own body. All it takes for chlamydia to spread is for infected bodily secretions to come in contact with a part of your body, such as the vagina or penis. Although less common, the disease can also transmit through oral contact with the penis or vagina.

Chlamydia can spread to different parts of the body, such as the eyes, if infected secretions come in contact with them. For example, a woman could spread chlamydia from the vagina to the rectum while wiping after a bowel movement. Someone who uses a sex toy that an infected person used without cleaning it first could also contract chlamydia.

Will I Get Chlamydia If My Partner Is Infected?

Have you ever wondered, “Can you have chlamydia and not pass it on?” Unfortunately, anyone who has sex with someone with a chlamydial infection has a very high risk of catching chlamydia. A genital infection will likely occur if infected bodily fluids enter the reproductive tract or come into contact with the skin and tissue inside the vagina (called the genital mucosa) of an uninfected person.

Although chlamydia always doesn’t present symptoms, there are some signs to watch out for. Potential chlamydia symptoms include:

• Burning sensation while urinating
• Vaginal discharge that has a foul odor
• Rectal bleeding or discharge
• Testicle swelling or pain
• Pain during sex
• Flu-like symptoms, such as a sore throat or fever

A chlamydia trachomatis infection can result in long-term impacts to your health. Untreated chlamydia can cause reproductive tract scarring in women, which can lead to fertility issues. People of all genders can end up with spondyloarthritis, a condition that causes joint inflammation, if their chlamydia infection goes untreated for a long time. 

Recurrence of Chlamydia

One common myth about chlamydia is that once you’ve had it, you can’t contract it again. Can you be immune to chlamydia? The answer is no.

Although you can treat chlamydia, an infection does not give you “adaptive immunity” — which means you can get it again. 

Even if you have previously had chlamydia, if you are experiencing symptoms, it is important to get tested immediately. Rapid STD Testing offers same-day std testing, including a 10-panel STD test that tests for chlamydia.

Chlamydia is particularly dangerous because it can come back even after the initial symptoms go away after treatment. Ways chlamydia can recur include:

• Incorrect prescriptions: It is important to treat any STD with the proper medication to eliminate the infection and curb any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you take the wrong medication, you will still have chlamydia. Using medication from a friend or that worked for other STDs may not be effective in healing chlamydia.
• Failure to take medications: Always take your medication as prescribed for the entire course of the treatment. Ending your treatment prematurely because you are feeling better can result in the infection and symptoms returning, as well as potential transmission to future partners. Your body cannot fight off chlamydia on its own.
• Antibiotic-resistant strains: Some strains of chlamydia are resistant to certain antibiotics, such as azithromycin. If you have been treated for chlamydia with an antibiotic before, it may be less effective the next time. If you are experiencing continued symptoms after treatment has finished, consult your doctor for additional treatment.
• Untreated partner: If you test positive for chlamydia and have one or more regular sexual partners, inform each partner about the diagnosis and encourage them to get tested. They may have contracted the disease and could transmit it back to you, resulting in a secondary infection.
• New infection: Treatment for chlamydia does not prevent the disease from recurring after sexual intercourse with a new infected partner. Consider getting tested with any new partners prior to engaging in unprotected sex. If you’re wondering, “Can I get chlamydia from someone who doesn't have it?” the answer is no.

Who Is at a Higher Risk of Reinfection?

Certain people are at a higher risk of chlamydia reinfection depending on the personal behaviors and behaviors of their partners. People who engage in sexual contact with multiple partners or frequently have sex with new partners are at risk for reinfection. Anyone who contracts chlamydia and continues to have sex with a partner who didn’t get tested during that time risks a recurrence. 

Retesting for Chlamydia

Once your doctor has diagnosed you with chlamydia and you’ve completed treatment, you should return to the doctor for retesting three months after the completion of the initial treatment. If the treatment fails or a new infection has occurred, your doctor can prescribe another round of treatment. A rapid STD test can quickly and accurately tell you whether your chlamydia infection is gone.

Is There a Vaccine Against Chlamydia?

You cannot have a natural immunity to chlamydia, and there is no vaccine for chlamydia infections at this time. A vaccine is difficult to create because chlamydia symptoms are caused by the body’s immune cells responding to the infection. Dendritic cells have a protective role, as they expose the chlamydia antigen to immune cells to start the fight against the disease. Therefore, a potential vaccine could cause a negative immune cell response, which means your body does not fight the infection.

However, researchers have made advancements toward creating a vaccine. Researchers at UC Davis made female mice immune to chlamydia through their noses. This murine model (using mice as test subjects) created immune responses that prevented chlamydia infections. 

Another study found that two immunizations for chlamydia were safe for human use in a Phase 1 trial. With additional testing, these vaccinations may become available for widespread usage.

In the meantime, it is important to take preventative measures to avoid chlamydia infections and reinfections.

Protecting Yourself Against Reinfection

Can your body fight off chlamydia? The answer is no, but you can take several steps to prevent reinfection:

• Use barrier protection: Using protection during sexual encounters is one of the more effective ways to prevent chlamydia. Condoms and dental dams stop infected secretions from reaching your body. Use condoms that have been stored in a safe, temperature-regulated area and are not expired.
• Don’t douche: Douches can increase the risk of chlamydia by removing healthy bacteria from the body. Improper use of douches can also cause microtears in the vaginal canal, creating more avenues for the infectious bacteria to enter.
• Schedule regular STD testing: Getting tested for STDs on a regular basis helps prevent the transmission of chlamydia to your sexual partners. In addition, catching it early can prevent it from becoming serious and lessen the duration of infection.
• Complete treatment: If you are prescribed antibiotics for a chlamydia infection, take them all as prescribed. Missing a dose increases the chance of recurrence.

Chlamydia Testing Can Be Simple

Can you be immune to chlamydia? Although the answer is no, you can stay on top of your sexual health by keeping up with routine STD screenings. If you believe you may have been exposed to chlamydia or another STD, Rapid STD Testing is here to help. Contact us to schedule your test today.