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 infections in New York City, and one of the easiest to treat. It is also easy to miss, because many people never notice anything wrong. This guide explains what chlamydia is, what the symptoms can look like, who should be tested, how testing works, and what treatment involves. It also covers where to get tested across the five boroughs, including free and low-cost options.

The facts here come from the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021), the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and New York State law. Nothing here can tell you whether you have an infection. Only a test and a clinician can do that.

Key takeaways

The CDC says most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, so a test is the only way to know your status.
Chlamydia is curable. A clinician prescribes antibiotics, and the CDC recommends it for everyone who tests positive.
The CDC and USPSTF recommend yearly screening for sexually active women 24 and younger and for older women at increased risk. The CDC also recommends at least yearly screening for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
Testing uses a urine sample or a swab. Many people can collect the sample themselves.
The CDC recommends testing again about three months after treatment, because repeat infections are common.
New York City Sexual Health Clinics offer low-cost or no-cost testing and treatment. NYC Health says no one is turned away for inability to pay.
Minors can get STI testing and treatment in New York without a parent's consent.

In this guide

What chlamydia is and how common it is in New York City
Symptoms of chlamydia
Who should be tested, and how often
How chlamydia testing works
Is chlamydia curable? Treatment explained
Partners, retesting and prevention
Where to get tested in New York City
Common questions

What chlamydia is and how common it is in New York City

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It spreads through vaginal, anal or oral sex, and it can pass from a pregnant person to a baby during delivery. It can affect the genitals, the rectum and the throat. Anyone who has sex can get chlamydia, whatever their gender, orientation or number of partners.

Chlamydia is not a sign of anything about who you are. It is a common infection, and getting tested for it is routine health care.

What the New York City numbers show

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) reported 62,774 chlamydia cases in New York City in 2024, a rate of 760.16 per 100,000 people, in its STI Surveillance Annual Report. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported infection of its kind in the city.

For context, the CDC's 2023 state ranking tables list New York State at 558.4 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people, with 109,284 cases. Those two figures cover different years and different geographies, so they should not be compared directly. Reported cases also reflect how much testing happens, not only how much infection exists.

The important point for a New Yorker is simple. Chlamydia is common enough here that routine screening is worthwhile, and the infection is treatable when it is found.

Why it matters to find it

Left untreated, chlamydia can sometimes lead to problems. The CDC says untreated chlamydia in people with a cervix can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to long-term pelvic pain, trouble getting pregnant and a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy. In people with a penis, chlamydia can sometimes cause painful inflammation of the tubes near the testicles. A pregnant person with untreated chlamydia can pass it to a newborn, which can cause eye infection or pneumonia.

These outcomes are not the usual story. They are the reason clinicians encourage screening, since treatment is simple once the infection is found.

Symptoms of chlamydia

The most important fact about the symptoms of chlamydia is that there often are none. The CDC states that most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. That is why feeling fine does not tell you whether you have been exposed, and why screening matters.

When symptoms do appear, the CDC says they usually show up several weeks after exposure. They can also be mild and easy to mistake for something else.

Possible symptoms in people with a vagina or cervix

Unusual vaginal discharge
Burning or discomfort when urinating
Bleeding between periods or after sex
Pain during sex
Lower abdominal or pelvic pain

Possible symptoms in people with a penis

Discharge from the tip of the penis
Burning when urinating
Pain or swelling in one or both testicles

Possible symptoms in the rectum or throat

Chlamydia in the rectum can cause pain, discharge or bleeding, though many people have no symptoms at all. Chlamydia in the throat rarely causes symptoms. The CDC notes that throat infections are common enough in some groups that clinicians may test that site depending on the kind of sex a person has.

What symptoms can and cannot tell you

None of these symptoms is specific to chlamydia. Gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, urinary tract infections and other conditions can cause very similar problems. A symptom does not confirm chlamydia, and the lack of one does not rule it out. A test is the only way to find out.

If you notice any of the signs above, it is reasonable to see a clinician soon. Many New York City clinics accept walk-ins, as described later in this guide.

Who should be tested, and how often

Because chlamydia so often causes no symptoms, screening recommendations are based on who is more likely to be affected, not on symptoms. Screening means testing someone who feels fine.

Sexually active women and other people with a cervix

The USPSTF recommends screening for chlamydia in all sexually active women 24 years or younger, and in older women who are at increased risk. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines give the same advice and recommend yearly screening for these groups. Increased risk includes having a new partner, more than one partner, a partner with other partners, or a partner who has an STI. Your clinician can help you work out whether that applies to you.

Men who have sex with men

The CDC recommends screening at least once a year for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, at each body site where they have had sex. The CDC says people with multiple or anonymous partners may benefit from more frequent screening, such as every three to six months.

Transgender and nonbinary people

The CDC notes that screening recommendations for transgender and gender-diverse people should be based on the anatomy a person has and the sex they have, not on gender identity. A clinician can help you decide which body sites to test. Good care here means telling the clinician what kind of sex you have, so the right samples are collected.

Pregnancy

The CDC recommends chlamydia screening at the first prenatal visit for pregnant people 24 and younger and for older pregnant people at increased risk. Treating chlamydia during pregnancy protects both the pregnant person and the baby. If you are pregnant, ask your prenatal clinician which tests are part of your care.

New York also has specific prenatal rules for syphilis testing, which is a different infection. NYS Department of Health guidance requires syphilis tests at the first prenatal exam, in the third trimester and at delivery.

Other reasons to test

A partner has told you they have chlamydia or another STI.
You have symptoms.
You are starting a new relationship and want a baseline.
You have had an STI before. The CDC recommends retesting after treatment, covered below.

These recommendations are guidelines, not limits. Anyone who is sexually active and wants a test can ask for one.

How chlamydia testing works

The CDC recommends a type of test called a nucleic acid amplification test, or NAAT. A NAAT looks for the genetic material of the bacteria in a sample. The CDC describes NAATs as the recommended test for chlamydia because of their strong accuracy. No test is perfect, and a clinician can explain how to read your result.

What the sample looks like

Depending on your anatomy and the kind of sex you have, the sample may be:

A urine sample, which is the usual choice for people with a penis
A vaginal swab, which the CDC recommends as the preferred sample for people with a vagina. Many clinics let you collect it yourself in a private room.
A rectal swab, if you have had receptive anal sex
A throat swab, if you have had oral sex and your clinician recommends testing that site

Testing a single body site can miss an infection at another site. If you are not sure which samples to give, say so and ask the clinician. It is a normal question.

Getting results

Timing varies by clinic. The NYC Health Sexual Health Clinic page says the Chelsea main clinic does not offer rapid results and that results are expected in seven days. The Chelsea Express Clinic and the Fort Greene Express Clinic have a Quickie Lab that returns rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea results. For any other clinic, ask how and when you will hear back before you leave.

When to test after an exposure

A very recent exposure may not show on a test yet. The CDC does not set a single timeline that fits every situation, so ask the clinician how soon after a specific exposure to test. If you cannot wait, a test now plus a repeat later is a reasonable plan to discuss with them.

Testing is often combined

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are often tested together, since they can occur together and are sampled the same way. Many people also choose HIV and syphilis testing during the same visit. Ask the clinic which tests it offers and which are right for you.

Privacy and reporting

NYC Health says the city's Health Code requires seven STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, to be reported to the Health Department within 24 hours. This is a public health reporting requirement. It lets the department track infections and support partner services. Ask the clinic how your information is handled if you have questions.

Is chlamydia curable? Treatment explained

Yes. Chlamydia is curable. The CDC says chlamydia can be cured with the right antibiotics prescribed by a clinician. There is no home remedy or over-the-counter product that treats it, and the infection will not reliably go away without treatment.

What chlamydia treatment looks like

Chlamydia treatment is an antibiotic that a clinician chooses and prescribes. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines list recommended and alternative antibiotic options, and the right one depends on your situation. A clinician considers things like pregnancy, other health conditions, allergies and the body site involved. The details of what you take and for how long come from your clinician and pharmacist, and the instructions on your prescription are the ones to follow.

The most important part is to finish the full course your clinician gives you, even if symptoms go away early.

While you are being treated

The CDC advises avoiding sex until treatment is complete and for a period afterward. Ask your clinician exactly how long to wait for your prescription.
Partners from the recent past need to be tested and treated, or the infection can pass back and forth. See the next section.
Tell your clinician about any other medicines you take or any possible pregnancy.
If symptoms continue or return, contact the clinician who treated you.

Does treatment prevent future infections?

No. Treatment cures the infection you have. It does not make you immune, so you can get chlamydia again from a new exposure or from an untreated partner. This is why the CDC recommends retesting.

Chlamydia and doxy-PEP

In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex, known as doxy-PEP. The CDC recommends that clinicians discuss it with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and with transgender women, who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. Doxy-PEP is a prescription decision made with a clinician. It lowers the chance of getting some bacterial STIs, including chlamydia, and it is not a replacement for regular screening. The NYC Sexual Health Clinics and Callen-Lorde list doxy-PEP among their services.

Cost of treatment

NYC Health says its Sexual Health Clinics provide treatment as well as testing. Adults 19 and older are asked for insurance or a sliding-scale fee, with no proof of income required, and the department says no one is turned away for inability to pay. Other clinics set their own fees, covered below.

Partners, retesting and prevention

Telling partners

Telling a partner about a possible exposure can feel awkward. It is also one of the most helpful things you can do. A partner who has no symptoms may not know to get tested, and an untreated partner can pass chlamydia back to you after you are treated.

The CDC recommends that partners from the 60 days before symptoms started, or before the diagnosis if there were no symptoms, be evaluated, tested and treated. If you are not sure how to start the conversation, a clinician or the NYC Health Sexual Health Clinic Hotline can help you think it through. Keep it short and factual: you tested positive for chlamydia, it is curable, and they should get tested.

Expedited partner therapy in New York

Expedited partner therapy (EPT) lets a clinician provide treatment for a patient's partners without first examining them. New York allows it under Public Health Law section 2312, with rules at 10 NYCRR section 23.5. NYC Health says the infections for which the CDC recommends EPT are chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.

EPT does not replace a visit to a clinician for a partner. A partner who is pregnant, has symptoms or is worried about other infections should still be seen and tested. Ask your clinician whether EPT applies to your situation and how it works in practice.

Retesting after treatment

The CDC recommends that people treated for chlamydia be tested again about three months after treatment. This is true even if you believe your partners were treated. Repeat infections are common, and a repeat infection raises the chance of complications like PID. Retesting is routine and is not a sign that treatment failed.

If you are pregnant, the CDC recommends a test of cure about four weeks after treatment, plus retesting within three months. Your prenatal clinician will plan this with you.

Ways to lower your chances of chlamydia

Use external or internal condoms or dental dams consistently and correctly. The CDC says they lower the risk of chlamydia, though they do not remove it.
Get screened on the schedule that fits your situation, and ask partners about their testing.
Limit sharing sex toys, or cover them with a new condom for each partner.
If you are eligible, ask a clinician about doxy-PEP.
Test again after any new partner or any treatment.

Prevention is not about avoiding sex. It is about knowing your status and making choices that fit your life.

Where to get tested in New York City

New York City has more low-cost and free sexual health care than most places. The options below come from NYC Health and from each clinic's own published information. Hours and services can change, so call or check the website before you go. For a fuller borough-by-borough list, see our guide to STD testing in New York City.

NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics

The NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics offer STI testing, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP, HPV vaccine (for patients getting other sexual health services) and treatment. NYC Health says most services are walk-in only and that clinics may close early once they reach capacity. Arriving earlier in the day gives you the best chance of being seen.

NYC Health says these clinics serve anyone 12 or older without parental consent, regardless of immigration status. Adults 19 and older are asked for insurance or a sliding-scale fee, with no proof of income required, and no one is turned away for inability to pay.

The Sexual Health Clinic Hotline is 347-396-7959, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. NYC Health does not list separate phone numbers for each clinic.

Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic and Express Clinic, 303 9th Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan, NY 10001. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Express Clinic runs Monday and Wednesday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Express Clinic has a Quickie Lab with rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea results.
Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic, 2238 Fifth Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan, NY 10037. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Fort Greene Sexual Health Clinic and Express Clinic, 295 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (clinic on the 2nd floor, Express on the 1st). Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Express hours match Chelsea's, and it also has a Quickie Lab.
Morrisania Sexual Health Clinic, 1309 Fulton Avenue, Second Floor, Bronx, NY 10456. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Jamaica Sexual Health Clinic, 90-37 Parsons Boulevard, First Floor, Queens, NY 11432. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Corona Sexual Health Clinic, 34-33 Junction Boulevard, First Floor, Queens, NY 11372. Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.

NYC Health says the Crown Heights (Brooklyn) and Riverside (Manhattan) clinics are closed until further notice. Its open clinic list does not include a Sexual Health Clinic on Staten Island, so Staten Island residents may find the Brooklyn or Manhattan sites, or a private clinician, more practical. Check with the health department for any updates.

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center

Callen-Lorde is a community health center that centers LGBTQ+ care. Its Chelsea site is at 356 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011, phone 212-271-7200. Callen-Lorde lists STI testing, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP, HPV vaccine, hepatitis C testing and treatment. Sexual health visits are by appointment Monday to Friday with limited walk-in, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is walk-in, first come, first served.

Callen-Lorde says services are available regardless of ability to pay, with a sliding fee for people who are uninsured or underinsured and visit co-pays from $0 to $100. It also has sites in the Bronx (555 Bergen Ave, 4th Floor, 718-215-1800) and Brooklyn (40 Flatbush Ave Ext, 3rd Floor, 718-215-1818). Its sexual health page names only the Chelsea location, so call the other sites to confirm which services they offer.

Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center

The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center serves young people ages 10 to 26 at 312-320 East 94th Street, New York, NY 10128, phone 212-423-3000. Mount Sinai says its services are completely free and that it offers walk-in visits Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., as well as scheduled appointments, for STI screening, diagnosis and treatment. It also lists HIV testing with same-day rapid results.

Other ways to find a test

The CDC's GetTested locator lets you enter a ZIP code to find STI testing sites, including ones outside the lists above. Your own primary care clinician, urgent care or gynecology or men's health provider can also order a chlamydia test, and many insurance plans cover screening. Check your plan for details.

NYC Health pages do not list a free at-home STI kit program. Free HIV self-test kits are available to NYC residents through partner agencies listed by NYC Health, which you can reach through 311 or by texting TESTNYC to 55676. Those kits test for HIV only, not chlamydia.

Teens and young adults

New York Public Health Law section 2305 allows a licensed physician to diagnose, treat or prescribe for a person under 21 who is infected with or exposed to an STD, without parental consent or knowledge. The statute does not set a minimum age. NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics serve anyone 12 or older without parental consent. PrEP is also available to adolescents without a parent's permission at those clinics, according to NYC Health.

Tips for your visit

Arrive early at walk-in clinics, since they may close early when full.
Bring your insurance card if you have one, but know that NYC Health does not require proof of income and says no one is turned away.
Tell the clinician about the kinds of sex you have so the right body sites are tested.
Ask when and how you will get your results.
If you are treated, ask how long to wait before having sex and when to retest.

Common questions

Can chlamydia go away on its own?

The CDC does not recommend waiting. Chlamydia is curable with clinician-prescribed antibiotics, and untreated infection can lead to complications and can be passed to partners. A test and treatment are the way to resolve it.

If I have no symptoms, should I still get tested?

A clinician is the right person to answer that for your situation. The CDC says most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, and screening is recommended for several groups regardless of symptoms. Anyone who wants a test can ask for one.

How long until symptoms of chlamydia appear?

When symptoms occur, the CDC says they usually appear several weeks after exposure. Many people never have any.

Can I get chlamydia again after treatment?

Yes. Treatment cures the current infection but does not protect you from a new one. That is why the CDC recommends retesting about three months after treatment and treating partners too.

Is chlamydia treatment the same for everyone?

Not always. A clinician picks the antibiotic based on your health, allergies, pregnancy and the infection site. Follow the instructions your clinician gives you.

Will a chlamydia result affect my relationships or my record?

Chlamydia is a common, treatable infection. Clinics and laboratories report certain infections, including chlamydia, to the health department as required by the NYC Health Code. Ask the clinic how your information is handled if you have concerns.

Is chlamydia the same as gonorrhea?

No. They are different bacterial infections that can cause similar symptoms and are often tested together. Both are curable with treatment from a clinician.

What is the next step?

If you are due for screening, have symptoms, or had a partner who tested positive, free and low-cost testing is available across the city. Call the Sexual Health Clinic Hotline at 347-396-7959, visit a clinic listed above, or use the CDC GetTested locator to find a site. Check the clinic's own page for current hours before you go.

Chlamydia: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in New York City