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 the country, and it is also one of the easiest to treat. The hard part is that it often gives no signal at all. That is why this guide spends as much time on testing as on symptoms.

Here you will find what chlamydia is, what symptoms can look like, who is advised to get tested and how often, how the test works, whether chlamydia is curable, what chlamydia treatment involves, and where to get tested in Reno. Every local detail comes from a named public source. Where a clinic has not published a detail, this guide says so and points you to the clinic.

In this guide

What chlamydia is and how common it is in Reno
Symptoms of chlamydia
Who should be tested, and how often
How chlamydia testing works
Is chlamydia curable? Treatment explained
Partners, retesting and lowering your risk
Testing in Reno: clinics, costs and Nevada rules
Sources

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 STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe the standard approach.
The CDC and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) advise yearly screening for sexually active women 24 and younger and for older women at higher risk. The CDC also advises yearly screening for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
Testing is usually a urine sample or a swab, using a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).
The CDC advises retesting about three months after treatment, because getting chlamydia again is common.
Sex partners need testing and treatment too. Nevada has no expedited partner therapy statute, according to the CDC, so ask your clinic how partners are handled.
Several Reno clinics offer chlamydia testing, and some list free or sliding scale options. Details are below.

What chlamydia is and how common it is in Reno

What chlamydia is

Chlamydia is an infection caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. The CDC describes it as the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States.

It spreads through vaginal, anal or oral sex. A person does not have to ejaculate for it to pass between partners. A pregnant person can also pass it to a baby during birth. The CDC does not list casual contact, such as sharing a toilet seat or a towel, as a way it spreads.

Anyone who is sexually active can get chlamydia. That includes people of every gender, every orientation and every age. Getting it says nothing about a person's character. It says that bacteria found a route, which happens to many people.

What the numbers show for Reno and Nevada

Public numbers help show how common chlamydia is nearby. They have limits, though, because they count diagnosed and reported cases. The CDC notes that many infections go undiagnosed because people have no symptoms and are never tested.

Washoe County, which includes Reno, had 497.0 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people in 2021, or 2,452 cases. This figure comes from Stacker's summary of CDC AtlasPlus data, so it is a secondary source.
Nevada had 493.6 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people in 2023, ranking 32nd among states, according to America's Health Rankings, which uses CDC AtlasPlus data.
For 2022, Stacker's summary of CDC AtlasPlus data lists Nevada at 509.4 per 100,000, or 16,189 cases.
For 2023, KFF reports Nevada rates of 577.1 per 100,000 among women and 410.1 among men, citing the CDC 2023 STI Surveillance Report.

Do not compare the county figure with the state figures directly. They come from different years and different sources. The practical reading is simple: chlamydia is common in Nevada, including in Washoe County, and routine testing is a normal part of sexual health care here.

Symptoms of chlamydia

The most important fact about the symptoms of chlamydia is that many people never notice any. The CDC says most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, the CDC says they usually show up several weeks after exposure. Some people have symptoms much later, and some never do.

The absence of symptoms does not tell you whether an infection is present, and only a test can answer that. A clinician can also explain what any symptom you have might mean. The lists below describe what the CDC says symptoms can look like. They cannot tell you whether you have chlamydia, because other conditions cause the same signs.

Symptoms of chlamydia in women and people with a vagina or cervix

When symptoms occur, the CDC lists these:

An unusual vaginal discharge
A burning feeling when urinating
Pain during sex or bleeding between periods (these can have many causes)
Lower belly pain

Because the infection often sits in the cervix without causing discomfort, it can continue unnoticed for a long time.

Symptoms of chlamydia in men and people with a penis

The CDC lists these possible symptoms:

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

Symptoms in the rectum or throat

Chlamydia can infect the rectum after receptive anal sex. The CDC says rectal infection can cause rectal pain, discharge or bleeding, though many people have no symptoms. Chlamydia can also infect the throat after oral sex. The CDC says throat infections usually cause no symptoms.

This matters because a urine test alone will not find an infection in the throat or rectum. Tell the clinician which kinds of sex you have had so they can choose the right swabs.

When to seek care sooner

Contact a clinic if you have new burning with urination, a new discharge, pelvic or testicular pain, or if a partner tells you they tested positive. Seek urgent care for severe lower belly pain, fever with pelvic pain or severe testicular pain. Those need prompt medical attention whatever the cause.

What untreated chlamydia can do

The CDC explains that untreated chlamydia can lead to complications over time. In women, it can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to long-term pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and trouble getting pregnant. In men, the infection can inflame the tube behind the testicle (epididymitis), which causes pain and can rarely affect fertility. Untreated chlamydia may also make it easier to get HIV if exposed, according to the CDC.

These are reasons to test, not reasons to panic. Most of these complications are preventable when chlamydia is found and treated.

Who should be tested, and how often

Because symptoms are unreliable, screening is built around who is more likely to be affected, not around who feels unwell. Screening means testing someone who has no symptoms.

What the CDC advises

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend:

Yearly chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under 25.
Yearly screening for older women with risk factors, such as a new sex partner, more than one partner, a partner with other partners, or a partner who has an STI.
Screening for pregnant people under 25 and for older pregnant people at increased risk. The CDC also advises screening in early pregnancy and retesting later for those at continuing risk.
At least yearly screening for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, at each body site where they have had sex. The guidelines suggest more frequent screening, such as every three to six months, for people at higher risk.
Screening of transgender and gender diverse people based on their anatomy and sexual practices. A person with a cervix, for example, follows the guidance for women, and a person with a penis who has receptive anal sex follows the guidance for rectal screening.

What the USPSTF says

The USPSTF recommends chlamydia screening for sexually active women 24 years and younger and for older women at increased risk. For men, the USPSTF has said there is not yet enough evidence to weigh the benefits and harms of routine screening. That does not mean men should not be tested. It means the Task Force did not issue a general recommendation. The CDC guidance above, and your own clinician, fill in the picture for men.

Other reasons a clinician may suggest a test

A new sex partner
A partner who tested positive for chlamydia or another STI
Symptoms that could fit chlamydia
A recent diagnosis of another STI, because the CDC notes infections often occur together
Starting or checking in on PrEP or doxy-PEP care, which usually includes routine STI testing

If you are unsure whether any of this applies to you, a clinic can talk through it without judgment. That conversation is part of what clinics are for.

How chlamydia testing works

The test itself

The CDC recommends a nucleic acid amplification test, or NAAT, for chlamydia. A NAAT looks for the genetic material of the bacterium, and it is the most sensitive type of test available. The sample is easy to collect:

For women and people with a vagina, the CDC lists a vaginal swab as the preferred sample. The swab can be collected by a clinician, or by the patient in a private space. A urine sample is another option.
For men and people with a penis, the CDC recommends a first-catch urine sample, which means the first part of the stream, not midstream.
For throat or rectal exposure, a clinician uses a swab of that site.

A clinic may check for gonorrhea at the same visit, because the same sample can often be tested for both. Many clinics also offer HIV and syphilis tests. Ask which tests are included, since the answer differs from clinic to clinic.

Before your visit

Some tips that clinics commonly pass on:

If you are giving a urine sample, ask whether you should avoid urinating for a while beforehand.
Bring a list of the kinds of sex you have had, so the right sites can be tested.
Bring your insurance card if you have one, and ask about sliding scale options if you do not.
Write down any medicines you take and any known allergies. The clinician needs them if treatment is needed.

Timing after a possible exposure

People often ask how soon after sex a test will be accurate. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines do not set a single, simple waiting period that applies to everyone, and a test taken very soon after exposure may be too early to pick up an infection. A clinician can tell you whether to test now, test again later, or both. If you know a partner has chlamydia, tell the clinician, because the CDC notes that a clinician may sometimes treat a recent partner right away without waiting for results.

Getting results

Turnaround depends on the clinic and its lab. The clinic can tell you how long results usually take and how they will contact you. Ask about this before you leave, and ask what number to call if you do not hear back. A result is only useful if it reaches you.

Remember that a negative result reflects the sites tested and the timing of the test. A clinician can tell you what a result does and does not mean for your situation.

Is chlamydia curable? Treatment explained

Yes, chlamydia is curable

If you are wondering whether chlamydia is curable, the CDC's answer is yes. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, and the CDC says it can be cured with the right antibiotics. HIV and herpes, by contrast, cannot be cured, though both can be managed. Chlamydia falls in the curable group with gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis.

Curable does not mean you cannot get it again. Treatment clears the current infection. It does not protect you from a new one if you are exposed again.

What chlamydia treatment looks like

Chlamydia treatment is an antibiotic prescribed by a clinician. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) name a recommended first choice and alternatives. The right choice for you depends on your health, other medicines, allergies and whether you are pregnant. For that reason, this guide does not name amounts or schedules. Your clinician will decide and will give you exact directions.

Some practical points:

Take the medicine exactly as the clinician tells you.
Tell the clinician if you are pregnant or might be. Some antibiotics are chosen differently in pregnancy.
Ask when it is safe to have sex again. The CDC advises avoiding sex until treatment is finished and for a set period afterward, and until partners are treated. Your clinician will give you the exact timing.
If you vomit soon after taking a dose or have a bad reaction, call the clinic or pharmacist instead of guessing.
Do not share or save leftover antibiotics. Each course is matched to one person's diagnosis.

Will symptoms go away right away?

Some people feel better within days. Others had no symptoms to begin with. Either way, the CDC advises completing the full course your clinician prescribes. If symptoms continue after treatment, or come back, return to the clinic. Do not assume the antibiotic failed. Reinfection from an untreated partner is a more common reason, and other conditions can mimic chlamydia symptoms.

Treatment during pregnancy

The CDC recommends treating chlamydia in pregnancy. Untreated infection can pass to a baby at birth and cause an eye infection or a lung infection. The CDC also advises a follow-up test about four weeks after treatment in pregnancy, and another test within three months. Pregnant people should tell their prenatal care provider about any concerns and ask which tests are part of their routine care.

Does doxy-PEP prevent chlamydia?

In 2024, the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, often called doxy-PEP. Under that guidance, a clinician may offer doxy-PEP to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and to transgender women, who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. The CDC reports it can lower the chance of getting chlamydia and syphilis, and it does less for gonorrhea. Doxy-PEP is a prescription decision made with a clinician. It does not replace regular testing. Northern Nevada Public Health is listed by CDC NPIN as offering doxy-PEP care, and the clinic can tell you whether you are a candidate.

Partners, retesting and lowering your risk

Why partners need care too

If one partner is treated and the other is not, the infection can pass back and forth. The CDC advises that anyone who had sex with a person diagnosed with chlamydia, in the 60 days before symptoms started or before the diagnosis, should be tested and treated. If the most recent partner was longer ago than 60 days, the CDC advises treating the most recent one. Your clinician can walk through who counts for your situation.

Telling a partner is not easy for most people. A few approaches help:

Keep the message short and factual: you tested positive for a common, treatable infection, and they should be tested.
Say it in private and without blame. Chlamydia often shows no symptoms, so nobody can tell who had it first.
Ask the clinic or the health department about partner notification help. Many public health programs can notify partners without naming you.

Expedited partner therapy in Nevada

Expedited partner therapy, or EPT, means a clinician can give a patient treatment or a prescription for a partner without examining that partner. The CDC's page on the legal status of EPT in Nevada lists no EPT-specific statute. It instead cites Nevada rules, including Nevada Administrative Code 441A.200, 441A.490 and 441A.540, that point providers to the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines for chlamydia and gonorrhea. It also cites Nevada Revised Statutes 639.2353 about patient names on prescription labels.

In plain terms, the CDC page does not describe a clear Nevada EPT law, so the safest step is to ask your clinic what it does for partners. Whatever the answer, the best outcome is that each partner is seen, tested and treated by a clinician.

Retesting about three months after treatment

The CDC recommends that people treated for chlamydia be retested about three months after treatment. The reason is not that treatment usually fails. It is that getting infected again is common, whether from an untreated partner or a new one. If you cannot test at three months, the CDC advises testing whenever you next see a clinician within the first year after treatment.

Outside of pregnancy, the CDC does not generally recommend a test sooner than that to confirm the cure, because tests picking up leftover genetic material from dead bacteria can give a confusing result. Your clinician may advise otherwise based on your situation.

Ways to lower your risk

None of these is perfect, and together they work better than any single one:

Using condoms or other barriers for vaginal, anal and oral sex lowers the chance of passing chlamydia, according to the CDC.
Regular testing, along with your partners, catches infections that have no symptoms.
Talking with partners about testing before sex makes it a normal part of the relationship.
Waiting until treatment is complete, and partners are treated, before having sex again prevents passing the infection back and forth.
Ask a clinician about doxy-PEP if you are in a group the CDC 2024 guidance mentions.

Emotional side

It is normal to feel embarrassed, worried or angry after a diagnosis. It helps to remember that chlamydia is common, curable and not a measure of anyone's worth. Clinicians see it every day, and they will not judge you.

Testing in Reno: clinics, costs and Nevada rules

Clinics that list chlamydia testing

Reno has several places to get tested, and some list free or sliding scale pricing. The CDC's GetTested directory and the CDC's National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) are the sources for the information below. Both are directories rather than the clinics themselves, so confirm hours, prices and walk-in rules with the clinic before you go. For a fuller comparison of costs and what each visit involves, see our guide to STD testing in Reno, where to get tested and what it costs.

Clinic	Address and phone	What is published
Northern Nevada Public Health Sexual Health Clinic	1001 E Ninth St, Bldg B, Reno, NV 89512. 775-328-2470	CDC GetTested lists a free STI test and a free HIV test, with a sliding scale and insurance and Medicaid accepted. CDC NPIN lists on-site chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV testing, plus PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP. Walk-ins are listed. Hours are not published on the listings.
Nevada Health Centers, Willow Street Health Center	790 Willow St, Reno, NV 89502. Main line 800-787-2568	CDC NPIN lists on-site chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV tests and STI treatment. Insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and a sliding scale are accepted. Appointments are recommended and walk-ins are welcome. Listed hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed 12:00 to 1:00 PM.
Northern Nevada HOPES, 5th Street Clinic	580 W 5th St, Reno, NV 89503. 775-786-4673	CDC GetTested lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV testing, a free HIV test, a sliding scale, and insurance, Medicaid and Medicare accepted. Appointment required. The HOPES website lists clinic hours of Monday to Thursday, 8am to 7pm and Friday, 8am to 5pm, but does not say which clinic those hours apply to.
Community Health Alliance, North Valleys Health Center	280 Vista Knoll Pkwy, Suite 107, Reno, NV 89506. 775-329-6300	CDC GetTested lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and HIV tests, a sliding scale, and insurance and Medicaid accepted. Appointment required. Hours are not published on the listing.
Community Health Alliance, Nell J Redfield Health Center	3915 Neil Rd, Reno, NV 89502. 775-329-6300	CDC GetTested lists the same tests as the North Valleys site, a sliding scale, and insurance and Medicaid accepted. Appointment required. Hours are not published on the listing.
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Reno Health Center	8025 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89511. 775-688-5555	CDC GetTested lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and HIV tests, with insurance and Medicaid accepted. Appointment required. No price or sliding scale is published on the listing, so contact the center about eligibility.

Each listing says to contact the organization about eligibility for free or reduced cost services. Call before your visit and ask what you will pay, which tests are included, and what to bring.

Finding more options

The CDC's GetTested tool at gettested.cdc.gov lets you look up testing locations by ZIP code, and it covers clinics beyond this list. If you are not sure where to begin, Northern Nevada Public Health is the local health department's clinic. Its page for the sexual health clinic was not available when this guide was prepared, so call 775-328-2470 for current hours and walk-in details.

Nevada rules that may matter to you

Minors and consent. Under Nevada Revised Statutes 129.060, as the Nevada Legislature publishes it, a minor may consent to examination and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases by a health officer, licensed physician, physician assistant, registered nurse or clinic. The law also covers STD prevention services. Ask the clinic how it handles billing and privacy for minors, since the statute does not answer that.
Reporting. Under Nevada Revised Statutes 441A.150, health care providers who treat a person with a reportable communicable disease must report it to the health authority, and laboratories must also notify the health authority. Chlamydia is on the CDC's list of nationally notifiable conditions. Reports go to public health for tracking, not to employers or schools. Ask the clinic what information it sends if this concerns you.
Offers of testing. Nevada Revised Statutes 441A.315 requires physicians, hospitals and certain providers to ask patients 15 and older whether they want STD testing, including HIV, in emergency and primary care settings, with some exceptions. If a provider raises it, that is the law at work, not a judgment of you.
Partners. As covered above, the CDC lists no EPT-specific Nevada statute.

These are plain-language summaries of public pages. For anything that affects a legal or billing decision, ask the clinic or the health department.

Common questions

Can I have chlamydia and feel fine?

Yes. The CDC says most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. That is the main reason testing matters.

Is chlamydia curable if I have had it before?

Yes. A repeat infection is treated the same way as the first, with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician. The CDC notes that repeat infections are common, which is why it advises retesting about three months after treatment.

Does one negative test cover every site and every partner?

No. A result applies to the site tested and the timing of the test. If you have had oral or anal sex, ask the clinician about swabs from those sites. If you have a new partner later, you may need another test.

Can I be tested without insurance?

Several of the clinics above list a sliding scale, and GetTested lists a free STI test at Northern Nevada Public Health. Eligibility and prices vary, so call first. If a clinic's page does not list a price, as is the case for Planned Parenthood's listing, ask when you book.

Should I get treated before my results come back?

That is a clinician's decision. The CDC says a clinician may treat right away when a person has symptoms or a partner with a confirmed infection. Tell the clinician about any partner who has tested positive.

What is the next step?

Pick one clinic from the table and call. Ask whether they take walk-ins, what the visit costs, and which tests are included. Then book, go, and ask your questions. A testing visit is usually short, and the result is something you can act on.

Chlamydia: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Reno