Roughly 1.6 million people have chlamydia in the United States, making it the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) tracked by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Chlamydia is an STI spread through bacteria that can lead to serious complications, like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infection of the female reproductive organs, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, eye infections, and arthritis if left untreated. You might be wondering just how easily chlamydia can be transmitted, including if it can be passed by kissing. Let’s separate fact from fiction.
Let’s Clear This Up — Can You Get Chlamydia From Kissing?
Chlamydia is spread through sexual contact with an infected person. However, sexual intercourse isn’t the only way chlamydia is transmitted. Anyone who is sexually active in any manner can get chlamydia because the bacteria that cause chlamydia are transferred via vaginal fluid and semen.
The Short Answer: No, It’s Extremely Unlikely
You cannot get chlamydia from kissing because the bacteria that cause chlamydia are not present in saliva. While transmission through kissing and casual contact is not possible, there is a very small likelihood that transmission through kissing could take place within the context of sexual activity. Open cuts in the mouth or lips could increase the risk of this happening.
How Chlamydia Is Actually Transmitted
Vaginal, anal, and oral sex are the most common ways chlamydia spreads. Sharing unwashed sex toys with an infected partner is another risk factor.
Understanding How the Infection Spreads
Chlamydia spreads through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person. This includes:
- Vaginal sex
- Anal sex
- Oral sex
- Sharing a sex toy that is not washed or covered with a new condom
- Getting infected semen or vaginal fluid in the eye
What About Oral Sex or Sharing Drinks?
Chlamydia can’t be passed from an infected throat by sharing food or drinks. However, oral sex can result in chlamydia being transmitted. During oral sex with an infected person, bacteria can enter the mouth and throat. Signs you’ve contracted chlamydia through oral sex include:
- Sore throat
- White or yellow patches in the back of the throat
- Painful or difficult swallowing
- Changes in breath or bad breath
Where the Real Risk Lies
Unprotected sex is the most common risk factor for contracting chlamydia. The risk lies in the fact that most chlamydia infections are asymptomatic, and an infected person can spread chlamydia even if they don’t have any symptoms.
Why People Often Confuse Saliva and Sexual Transmission
Can chlamydia be transferred through saliva? No, but it’s easy to mistake saliva transmission for sexual transmission. Saliva doesn’t have the same concentration of the bacteria and viruses that cause STIs as blood and sexual fluid, which is why oral sex transmits chlamydia, while kissing doesn’t.
Misinformation and Anxiety Around STIs
Contrary to what you’ve heard, casual contact such as hugging, kissing, and sharing food and drinks rarely results in the spread of an STI. Factors like stigmatization or fear of testing keep people unaware of how chlamydia and other STIs actually spread.
What to Do If You’re Worried About Exposure
Whether you have symptoms or believe you may have been exposed to chlamydia by an infected partner, it’s time to take control of your sexual health. Chlamydia is treatable and curable using common antibiotics like doxycycline—making it easy to protect yourself from long-term complications and avoid spreading it to others.
Testing Is Quick, Easy, and Private
STD testing is extremely easy and convenient. Knowing your chlamydia status gets you on the path to treatment quickly. As part of providing PrEP, MISTR offers completely free HIV and STD testing with at-home kits mailed directly to your door with no need for a clinic visit. Everything is 100% private and confidential. If you receive a positive result, MISTR can refer you to the appropriate in-person care for treatment.
How to Protect Yourself Moving Forward
Chlamydia can’t be ignored, but it can be prevented. Knowing how chlamydia spreads versus how it doesn’t spread is the first step.
Safe Sex and Regular Screening Work
Safe sex that prevents exposure to sexual fluids is the most effective way to protect yourself from chlamydia. Getting tested and treated is the way to protect your health and avoid spreading chlamydia to others. Chlamydia is usually asymptomatic, so make sure you’re getting screened regularly if you’re sexually active.
Bottom Line — Kissing Is Safe, Testing Is Smart
You don’t have to be worried about getting chlamydia from just kissing, but any activity that involves sexual fluids can spread this STI. Your sexual health is important. That’s why MISTR provides answers, testing, and treatment from judgment-free, friendly professionals. Do you have questions about chlamydia? MISTR provides access to testing, treatment, or just no-nonsense answers about your sexual health.
Please note: MISTR currently provides DoxyPEP only as a precursor to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV). It is not offered as a standalone STI prevention treatment.