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 in the United States. It is also one of the easiest to treat. The hard part is that many people never notice anything is wrong, so the only way to know is a test.

This guide explains the symptoms of chlamydia, who should be tested and how often, how testing works, what treatment looks like, and why partners and retesting matter. It also covers South Carolina rules and the places in Columbia that offer testing.

Key takeaways

The CDC says most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, so a test is the only way to find out.
Chlamydia is curable. A clinician prescribes antibiotics, and the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) list the recommended options.
The CDC and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend yearly screening for sexually active women under 25. The CDC also recommends it for other groups, listed below.
The CDC recommends retesting about three months after treatment, because repeat infection is common.
Sexual partners need testing and treatment too. South Carolina has no EPT-specific statute, but the state Board of Medical Examiners interprets state law to allow expedited partner therapy for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Columbia has several clinics that test for chlamydia, including a free option and sliding-scale options.

What chlamydia is and why it matters in Columbia
Symptoms of chlamydia
Who should be tested, and how often
How chlamydia testing works
Chlamydia treatment: is chlamydia curable?
Partners, retesting and South Carolina rules
Where to get tested in Columbia
Sources

What chlamydia is and why it matters in Columbia

What causes chlamydia

Chlamydia is an infection caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. It spreads through vaginal, anal or oral sex with a person who has the infection. It can also pass from a pregnant person to a baby during birth.

You do not need to have many partners to get chlamydia. One exposure with one partner is enough. Anyone who has had sex can get it, whatever their gender or orientation.

Chlamydia can infect the genitals, the rectum and the throat. Which sites are affected depends on the kind of sex a person has had.

Why testing matters even without symptoms

The CDC says chlamydia is the most commonly reported bacterial STI in the country. Because it often causes no symptoms, many infections go unnoticed and untreated. Untreated infections can lead to health problems later, and a person can pass the infection on without knowing.

That is why public health groups focus on screening. Screening means testing people who feel fine.

What the numbers look like in Richland County and South Carolina

Local numbers help show why this matters here. A Stacker analysis of CDC county data reported a 2021 chlamydia rate in Richland County of 1,344.2 per 100,000 people, or 5,623 cases. Stacker is a secondary source, and the official South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) county tables could not be confirmed for this guide.

For the whole state, America's Health Rankings, using CDC data, reported a 2023 chlamydia rate of 612.1 per 100,000 people in South Carolina.

These are reported cases. Because many infections cause no symptoms and are never tested for, reported numbers are likely lower than the true number of infections. The two figures also come from different years and sources, so they should not be compared directly. For current local figures, check the DPH page on sexually transmitted diseases.

A high rate does not say anything about any one person. It is a reason to make testing routine, not a reason for worry or blame.

Symptoms of chlamydia

Most people have no symptoms

The CDC says most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may show up weeks after exposure. Sometimes they never show up at all.

This means you cannot judge your status by how you feel. Only a test can show whether an infection is present. A clinician can explain what a test result means for you.

Symptoms that can occur in people with a vagina or cervix

According to the CDC, symptoms in this group can include:

An unusual vaginal discharge, which may have a different smell
A burning feeling when urinating
Bleeding between periods or after sex
Pain during sex
Pain in the lower belly

These symptoms are not specific to chlamydia. Many other conditions, including yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections, can cause similar changes. A clinician can sort out the cause.

Symptoms that can occur in people with a penis

The CDC lists these possible symptoms:

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

Again, other conditions can cause the same symptoms. Testing is how a clinician tells them apart.

Symptoms in the rectum and throat

Chlamydia in the rectum can cause pain, discharge or bleeding, but often causes nothing noticeable. The CDC notes that chlamydia in the throat usually causes no symptoms.

This matters for people who have anal or oral sex. A urine test alone will not check the rectum or throat. Ask a clinician about testing at every site where sex has happened.

Possible effects if chlamydia is not treated

The CDC explains that untreated chlamydia can cause lasting harm in some people. These effects are the reason screening is recommended.

In people with a uterus: The infection can spread to the reproductive organs and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to long-term pelvic pain, trouble getting pregnant and a higher chance of ectopic pregnancy, which is a pregnancy outside the uterus.
In people with testicles: The infection can cause epididymitis, which is painful swelling near the testicle. Serious complications are uncommon.
During pregnancy: Untreated chlamydia can pass to the baby at birth and may cause eye infections or pneumonia in a newborn.
Other effects: Having chlamydia can make it easier to get HIV if exposed. Chlamydia can also cause reactive arthritis in some people.

These outcomes are preventable. Finding and treating the infection early lowers the chance of them.

When to contact a clinician right away

Contact a clinician promptly if you have pelvic or lower belly pain, testicular pain or swelling, unusual discharge, burning with urination, or if you know a partner has been diagnosed. You do not need to wait to see whether symptoms get better. A clinician can decide which tests and treatment are right for you.

Who should be tested, and how often

Screening recommendations come from the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) and the USPSTF. They are slightly different for different groups.

Sexually active women and other people with a cervix

Both the CDC and the USPSTF recommend yearly chlamydia screening for sexually active women under age 25. The CDC also recommends yearly screening for women 25 and older who have risk factors, such as a new partner, more than one partner, or a partner who has an STI. The USPSTF makes a similar recommendation for older women at increased risk.

Transgender men and nonbinary people who have a cervix should be screened on the same basis as other people with a cervix. A clinician can help figure out which tests fit your body and your sex life.

Pregnant people

The CDC recommends screening for pregnant people under 25 and for older pregnant people at increased risk. The CDC also recommends retesting during pregnancy for people who were treated, as described later in this guide.

South Carolina's prenatal testing law, S.C. Code Ann. § 44-29-120, requires a syphilis test at the first prenatal exam. It does not name chlamydia. Ask your prenatal provider which tests are part of your care.

Men who have sex with men

The CDC recommends that sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men be screened for chlamydia at least once a year at each site of contact. That can include the urethra, rectum and throat, depending on the kind of sex. The CDC suggests more frequent screening, every three to six months, for people at higher risk, such as those with multiple partners.

Heterosexual men

The USPSTF has found insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening of men who only have sex with women. The CDC says clinicians may consider screening in settings with a high rate of chlamydia. This is a reason to talk with a clinician. It is not a reason to skip a test if you have had a new partner, have symptoms or have a partner with an STI.

Other times to be tested

Testing is also reasonable if:

A partner tells you they have chlamydia or another STI
You have symptoms
You start a new relationship and want to know your status together
You have had condomless sex with a new or casual partner
You are taking or starting HIV PrEP, since STI testing is part of regular PrEP care

Testing is routine health care

Asking for a chlamydia test is not an admission of anything. It is one of the most ordinary parts of caring for your health, like a blood pressure check.

How chlamydia testing works

The standard test

The CDC recommends a nucleic acid amplification test, called a NAAT, for chlamydia. A NAAT looks for the genetic material of the bacterium. It is the most sensitive type of test available.

What samples are used

The sample depends on your body and the kind of sex you have had. According to the CDC:

Vaginal swab: This is the preferred sample for people with a vagina. It can be collected by a clinician, or you can collect it yourself in a private space at the clinic.
Urine: This is the preferred sample for people with a penis. First-catch urine is usually requested, which means the first part of the stream. A clinician may ask you not to urinate for a short time beforehand.
Rectal swab: This checks for infection in the rectum.
Throat swab: This checks for infection in the throat.

You may be offered a combined test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, since they often happen together and the same sample can be used. A clinician may also suggest tests for HIV, syphilis and other infections.

How long to wait after exposure

People often ask how soon after sex a test will work. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines do not give one fixed window period for chlamydia that applies to everyone. If you have had a recent exposure, a clinician can tell you whether to test now, test again later, or both.

Getting results

Turnaround time depends on the clinic and its lab. Some clinics call with results and others use a patient portal. Ask when you will hear back and how, and ask what number to call if you do not.

A clinician is the right person to explain a result. A negative result at one visit reflects that moment. A positive result means treatment can begin.

Privacy

Chlamydia is a reportable condition in South Carolina. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-29-10, physicians must report certain infectious diseases on the DPH list to the county health department. This reporting is how public health tracks infections and helps partners get care. The DPH list of reportable diseases was not available to confirm here, so ask the clinic or DPH how reporting works for chlamydia.

Testing for teens and minors

South Carolina has no STD-specific minor consent statute that could be confirmed. However, S.C. Code Ann. § 63-5-350 allows health services of any kind to be provided to minors of any age without parent or guardian consent when the authorized provider considers them necessary. Section 63-5-340 covers minors 16 and older. The Guttmacher Institute lists South Carolina as a state where minors may consent to STI testing and treatment.

Policies on billing and insurance statements can still differ by clinic. If privacy is a concern, ask the clinic how it handles billing and test results before the visit.

Chlamydia treatment: is chlamydia curable?

Yes, chlamydia is curable

The answer to the question "is chlamydia curable?" is yes. The CDC states that chlamydia can be cured with the right antibiotics, prescribed by a clinician. Treatment works well when it is taken as directed.

Chlamydia is not like HIV, herpes or HPV, which are treatable or manageable but not curable. Bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can be cured with treatment.

What chlamydia treatment involves

Only a clinician can prescribe chlamydia treatment. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) list doxycycline as the recommended antibiotic for most adults, with other antibiotics as alternatives. A clinician picks the medicine based on your health, other medicines you take, and whether you are pregnant. Doxycycline, for example, is generally avoided in pregnancy, so a different antibiotic is used.

This guide does not give doses or schedules. Your clinician or pharmacist will tell you exactly how to take your medicine. If something about your prescription is unclear, call and ask.

What to do while you are being treated

The CDC gives these general instructions:

Take the full course as prescribed, even if symptoms fade.
Avoid sex until treatment is finished and any symptoms have resolved. The CDC advises waiting until seven days after treatment has been completed for some regimens, and until your partners have also been treated. Your clinician will say which applies to you.
Tell recent sexual partners so they can be tested and treated.
Do not share your medicine with anyone.

If you vomit your medicine, have a reaction, or have symptoms that do not improve, contact your clinician.

Do symptoms go away right away?

Symptoms often improve within days, but the infection is not considered cleared until treatment is complete. Stopping early can leave bacteria behind.

Is a follow-up test needed to confirm a cure?

The CDC says a test to confirm a cure is not routinely needed for non-pregnant people who took the recommended treatment, unless symptoms continue or reinfection is suspected. For pregnant people, the CDC recommends a test of cure about four weeks after treatment. All treated people should be retested about three months later, as explained below.

Can you get chlamydia again?

Yes. Being treated does not make you immune. You can get chlamydia again if you have sex with a partner who has not been treated, or with a new partner who has it. The CDC notes that repeat infection is common, and that repeat infections raise the risk of complications such as PID. That is why partner treatment and retesting matter.

Doxy-PEP and preventing bacterial STIs

In 2024, the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, known as doxy-PEP. It is a way for some people to lower the chance of getting certain bacterial STIs after sex. The CDC recommends that clinicians discuss it with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and transgender women, who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. Doxy-PEP has been shown to reduce chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in those groups. It is a prescription decision made with a clinician. CAN Community Health and PALSS list doxy-PEP among their services. Call to ask whether you are eligible.

Other ways to lower the chance of chlamydia

The CDC lists these approaches:

Use condoms or dental dams consistently and correctly
Talk with partners about testing before sex
Get tested regularly, according to the recommendations above
Limit the number of partners if that fits your life

No method removes all risk, and none of them should be used to judge anyone. They are tools.

Partners, retesting and South Carolina rules

Why partners need care

If only one person is treated, the other can pass the infection back. The CDC recommends that anyone diagnosed with chlamydia tell sexual partners from the previous 60 days so they can be tested and treated. If you had no sex in the past 60 days, the CDC says to tell your most recent partner.

Telling a partner can feel hard. It may help to keep the message short and factual: that you were diagnosed with chlamydia, that it is curable, and that they should get tested. A clinic or the DPH can often help with partner notification. Call the DPH STD/HIV Hotline at 1-800-322-2437 to ask what is available.

Expedited partner therapy (EPT) in South Carolina

Expedited partner therapy means a clinician can give a patient medicine or a prescription for their partner without examining the partner first. The CDC supports EPT for chlamydia when a partner cannot easily get to a clinic.

According to the CDC's page on the legal status of EPT in South Carolina, the state has no EPT-specific statute. The South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners interprets S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-113(B) to allow EPT for chlamydia and gonorrhea. A search result suggested the Board's position statement has been revised, and the current wording could not be confirmed. Ask your clinician whether they offer EPT and how it works at their practice.

EPT does not replace a visit. Partners should still be seen if possible, because they may need testing for other infections. Partners who are pregnant, or who have symptoms, should see a clinician in person.

Retesting about three months after treatment

The CDC recommends retesting about three months after treatment for chlamydia, whether or not you think your partners were treated. This is because reinfection is common. If you cannot get tested at three months, the CDC says to test at your next visit within the following 12 months.

Retesting is not a sign that something went wrong. It is a standard step that catches reinfection early.

Laws that apply

South Carolina has laws that touch on STI exposure. S.C. Code Ann. § 44-29-60 declares STDs on the DPH reportable list to be dangerous and makes knowingly exposing another person to one unlawful. Separately, S.C. Code Ann. § 44-29-145 is a HIV-specific law about informing partners. It applies to HIV, not to chlamydia.

This is general information, not legal advice. If you have questions about how these laws apply to you, speak with a licensed attorney or ask the DPH.

Talking about it without shame

A chlamydia diagnosis says nothing about a person's character. It is a common infection with a reliable cure. Getting tested and treated is a responsible, caring step for you and your partners.

Where to get tested in Columbia

Several Columbia providers offer chlamydia testing. For a fuller comparison of costs and visit types, see the guide to STD testing in Columbia. The details below come from the clinics' own pages and CDC directory listings. Hours, fees and walk-in policies can change, so call before you go.

PALSS (Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services)

PALSS is at 2638 Two Notch Rd, Ste 108, Columbia, SC 29204. The phone number is (803) 779-7257. The CDC NPIN listing shows free HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and STI tests, and also lists sliding-scale fees and insurance or Medicaid. The listing shows weekday hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., walk-in testing on Tuesdays from 3 to 8 p.m. and Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m., and walk-in only hours on the first and third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A separate CDC GetTested listing says an appointment is required, so confirm by phone.

CAN Community Health - Columbia

CAN Community Health is at 1911 Hampton St., Columbia, SC 29201. The phone number is (803) 849-8430. The clinic page lists testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, trichomoniasis and HIV, with treatment on site. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance, and says sliding-scale fees and grant funding may be available. Listed hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with extended Thursday hours and some Saturday hours on select dates. The page says walk-ins are accepted during regular hours, while the CDC NPIN listing says an appointment is required. Calling ahead will clear that up. See the CAN Community Health Columbia page.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic - Columbia Health Center

This center is at 2712 Middleburg Dr, Ste 107, Columbia, SC 29204. The phone number is (803) 256-4908. The CDC NPIN listing shows tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, herpes, syphilis and rapid HIV, and says insurance and Medicaid are accepted. It lists weekday hours that vary by day, so check the CDC listing and call to confirm. The listing says an appointment is required but that you may walk in during open hours to book or ask about same-day availability. For cost, the listing says to contact the center about eligibility.

Cooperative Health (Five Points and Waverly)

Cooperative Health, a federally qualified health center, has two sites at 1228 Harden St, Columbia, SC 29204. The Five Points Walk-In Center (Ste A) is at (803) 722-1565. CDC GetTested lists it as no appointment required, with chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV and hepatitis C tests, and insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and sliding-scale fees. The Waverly Family Practice (Ste C) is at (803) 748-1181 and requires an appointment. Hours are not stated on the CDC listings, so call to ask.

AHF Healthcare Center - Columbia

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is at 4100 N Main St, Suite 102, Columbia, SC 29203. The phone number is (803) 223-9895. CDC GetTested lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and rapid HIV tests, with a free HIV test, and says an appointment is required. For the cost of other tests, contact the organization.

Richland County Health Department

The Richland County Health Department is at 2000 Hampton St., Columbia, SC 29204. The SC DPH headquarters page lists STD, HIV and hepatitis C services at this site and notes that DPH may later move to the former Columbia Place Mall site once Richland County finishes its Family Services Center. The page gives no clinic phone number, hours or fees. To make an appointment, call the DPH Care Line at 1-855-472-3432. You can also call the DPH STD/HIV Hotline at 1-800-322-2437 or the Columbia number, (803) 898-0749.

Find more options through the CDC

The CDC's GetTested directory lets you look up testing sites by ZIP code. Listings can lag behind real changes, so call to confirm hours and services.

What to ask when you call

Do you test for chlamydia at the throat and rectum, or only with a urine or vaginal sample?
What does the visit cost, and is there a sliding scale?
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
When and how will I get my results?
Do you offer treatment on site, and do you offer partner treatment?

What if you cannot pay?

Cost should not stop you from asking. PALSS and CAN Community Health both describe free or sliding-scale options, and the Cooperative Health sites accept sliding-scale fees. Free home STI test kits were not confirmed for South Carolina in the sources used for this guide. DPH does run a free in-home HIV test program for residents 17 and older, which covers HIV only, not chlamydia. Ask your local clinic what is available.

Next steps

If you are due for screening, have a new partner, or have symptoms, call one of the clinics above and ask for a chlamydia test. If you have already been treated, set a reminder to retest in about three months. If you need help paying, say so when you call.

Chlamydia: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Columbia

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