Frequently asked Chlamydia questions

Below you’ll find answers to some of the questions people ask about Chlamydia and contacting their partners. For more information on Chlamydia (Fact Sheets) click here .
Please click on the question listed below for further information.

Chlamydia is a very common infection, particularly in young, sexually active people who don’t always use condoms. In 2007, in Australia, there were 52,000 recorded cases of Chlamydia and 80% of these infections occurred in people aged 15-29 years.

However, the actual number of infections may be much higher than this as many people with Chlamydia do not realize they are infected and so never get tested.

Why do I need to contact my sexual partners?

Chlamydia is passed from one person to another by sexual contact.If you have Chlamydia, then it is very likely that one or more of your sexual partners also have this infection. Telling your sexual partners is important because it:

  • is the only way most people will know they have this infection
  • stops you getting the infection back again
  • shows your partner that you care about them
  • reduces the chance of your partner developing serious problems such as infertility
  • stops your partner passing the infection to others

Remember, most men and women with Chlamydia don’t have any symptoms and so they don’t know they have the infection.

Which partners do I need to contact?

We suggest you contact anyone you’ve had unprotected sex with in the last 3-6 months or, if you haven’t had sex with anyone during that time, your most recent sexual partner.

What do I need to tell them?

You need to tell your partners that they:

  • may be at risk of having Chlamydia
  • need to get tested and treated for this infection by a doctor.
  • need to contact their other partners (if they have Chlamydia)

How do I go about telling them?

Most people prefer their partners to talk to them face-to-face or over the phone about this issue. However, if this is not possible, or you don’t feel comfortable doing this, then think of using other methods such as email, SMS or a letter in the post. Remember, you don’t have to explain everything to your partners. Just give your partners our Fact Sheet or tell then to:

When do I tell them?

It’s important to tell your partners as soon as possible. The sooner they get tested and treated the better. If you put it off, you might never get around to doing it.

What if I don’t want my partner(s) to know it’s me who has Chlamydia?

While people respond best when they know who is contacting them, we understand that sometimes you may feel awkward, embarrassed or even frightened about doing this. So, if you really don’t want your partner to know who you are, you can:

  • send an anonymous email from this website
  • send an anonymous SMS 
  • send or drop in a letter that you don’t sign
  • ask your doctor if she/he can help you contact your partner(s)

In the end, it doesn’t really matter what method you use to contact your partner. The most important thing is TO LET YOUR PARTNERS KNOW THEY ARE AT RISK.

What if my partner’s Chlamdyia test is negative?

There are several reasons why your partner’s Chlamydia test may come back negative:

  • He or she may never have had the infection. Not everyone who comes in contact with Chlamydia will develop the infection
  • The test result may be a false negative. (False negative - and false positive - results can occur with any laboratory test). This is why we recommend all partners be treated with antibiotics, even before the test result is known.