Does Chlamydia Have a Smell? Discharge and Itching
Quick answer
Chlamydia often causes no symptoms at all. When it does, people with a vagina may notice an unusual discharge, which MedlinePlus says may have a strong smell, along with burning when peeing. Itching is listed by the WHO as a possible symptom. Smell and itching are also common with bacterial vaginosis and thrush, so you can't tell them apart by smell alone. A test is the only way to know.
Does this sound like what you're noticing?
Tick the field marks that match.
The more of these match, the more worth getting tested. This is not a diagnosis. Chlamydia often causes no symptoms, so a test can be worthwhile even if none of these apply.
A new smell or a change in discharge can be worrying, and it’s natural to wonder whether it could be an STI. The honest answer is that chlamydia can change discharge, but most people who have it notice nothing at all, and several more common conditions cause the same changes.
Does chlamydia have a smell?
Sometimes. MedlinePlus says people with chlamydia may have abnormal vaginal discharge that “may have a strong smell”. But there’s no smell that is specific to chlamydia, and many people with the infection have no discharge or smell.
The CDC adds that a smelly discharge is one of the signs worth seeing a provider about, along with an unusual sore, burning when peeing, and bleeding between periods.
What other symptoms can chlamydia cause in people with a vagina?
When chlamydia does cause symptoms, the sources we checked list these:
- Discharge that isn’t normal for you
- A burning feeling when you pee
- Bleeding after sex or between periods
- Pain in the lower belly
- Itching (listed by the WHO)
If symptoms appear, they may not show up until several weeks after sex with a partner who has chlamydia. The NHS says they can start from one week to several months after infection.
Can chlamydia cause itching?
It can, but itching is not a reliable clue. The WHO includes itch in its list of common symptoms in women. In men, the NHS lists burning and itching around the penis and testicles. Itching is also a typical feature of other, more common problems, so it can’t tell you which one you have.
How is chlamydia different from BV or thrush?
The NHS offers a rough guide to what different kinds of discharge may point to, while stressing that you shouldn’t self-diagnose:
- Fishy smell: may be bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- Thick and white, like cottage cheese: may be thrush
- Green, yellow or frothy: may be trichomoniasis
- Discharge with pelvic pain or bleeding: may be chlamydia or gonorrhea
- Discharge with blisters or sores: may be genital herpes
This is a pattern guide, not a test. You can have more than one condition at once, and chlamydia often has no discharge at all.
Why does it matter if I have no symptoms?
The CDC says chlamydia can cause serious health problems even when it causes no symptoms. In women, untreated infection can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can affect fertility and raise the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. The earlier it is found, the better, and the infection is curable with the right treatment.
You can also pass chlamydia to a partner without knowing you have it. That is why the CDC recommends regular testing for some groups even when they feel fine. If you’re not sure whether you’re one of them, see which STD test do I need, and mention any discharge or smell changes you’ve noticed to any clinician you see, even if they seem minor.
What should I do while I wait for answers?
- Don’t douche or wash inside your vagina. The NHS advises against it, and says to wash the skin around the vagina gently with warm water and mild, non-perfumed soap.
- Avoid perfumed soaps, deodorants and scented wipes, which can add to irritation.
- Consider avoiding sex until you have been tested. The CDC says the only way to completely avoid STIs is not to have vaginal, anal or oral sex.
- Make a note of when the change started and anything else you’ve noticed, to tell any clinician you see.
How do I get tested?
You can order a test online. The CDC says a urine sample or a vaginal swab is used, and the NHS says you may be able to take the swab yourself. If you have symptoms, choose a test that also covers other infections, since the NHS notes you may be offered tests for other STIs together.
If you test positive, chlamydia is treated with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician, and your recent partners need to be tested and treated too. Our page on chlamydia treatment and retesting explains what happens next.
Get care today if
- Pain in your pelvis or lower belly that is severe, getting worse, or comes on suddenly and sharply
- Pelvic pain with a fever, or with a very high temperature or shivering
- Pelvic pain with heavy vaginal bleeding
- Feeling dizzy or faint, or being sick, along with pelvic pain
- You are pregnant, or might be, and have unusual discharge with pelvic pain or bleeding
Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, urgent care or your doctor can see you today.
When to test
- As soon as you notice a changeOrder an online STD test. For people with a vagina, chlamydia is usually tested with a vaginal swab or a urine sample, and you can often collect the swab yourself.
- If a partner tells you they have an STIOrder a test even if you feel fine. The CDC says chlamydia often has no symptoms, and that symptoms may not appear until several weeks after sex with an infected partner.
- Once a year if you're sexually active and under 25The CDC recommends yearly chlamydia testing for sexually active women younger than 25, and for those 25 and older with risk factors such as a new partner or a partner with an STI.
- About 3 months after treatmentIf you are treated for chlamydia, the CDC says to test again about three months later, because repeat infection is common.
Common questions
Does chlamydia discharge smell?
It can. MedlinePlus says the abnormal discharge from chlamydia may have a strong smell, but it doesn't always. Because other conditions also change smell, a test is the only reliable way to tell.
Can chlamydia cause itching?
It can. The WHO lists itch among the common symptoms in women, and the NHS lists burning and itching around the penis and testicles in men. Itching alone is not specific to chlamydia, so don't rely on it either way.
Can I have chlamydia with no discharge or smell?
Yes. The CDC says chlamydia often has no symptoms, yet can still cause serious health problems. Most people who have it don't notice anything, which is why testing matters.
Is a fishy smell chlamydia or BV?
The NHS lists a fishy smell as a possible sign of bacterial vaginosis. Chlamydia can still be present at the same time, so if you have a new smell or discharge, order an STI test as well.
Sources
This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician who examines you, or a lab test, can tell you what you have. Read how we write and check our guides.