Chlamydia can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics, which may be administered in a single dose or taken over the course of a week. Pregnant women can be treated effectively with antibiotics without harming their baby.

Patients should take all prescribed medication, even if symptoms are not present or disappear. Once chlamydia is diagnosed, all current and past sexual partners should be informed and treated to avoid reinfection. Patients and their sexual partners should avoid sexual contact with any individuals until treatment is completed.

Patients are not usually retested for chlamydia after completing the medication unless symptoms persist or reinfection is suspected.

There are a number of steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of getting chlamydia, including:

• Practice abstinence. The best way to prevent infection is to practice abstinence or avoid having vaginal, anal or oral sex.
  
  
• Use condoms. Using a condom correctly during every sexual encounter can lower the risk of contracting chlamydia as well as other STDs. For vaginal sex, a male latex condom or a female polyurethane condom should be consistently used. For anal sex, a male latex condom should be used. For oral sex, use a dental dam, which is a rubbery material that can be placed over the anus or the vagina before sexual contact.
  
  
• Limit sexual partners. Having multiple sexual partners increases the risk of getting chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases. Maintaining a long-term, single-partner relationship is the best way to prevent contracting STDs. In addition, partners should honestly discuss their sexual histories to understand the possible risks.

Because teenagers and young adults are more susceptible to chlamydia infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that sexually active women aged 25 years or younger be given a screening test annually for chlamydia whether they exhibit symptoms or not. An annual screening test is also recommended for older women with risk factors for chlamydia, such as a new sexual partner or multiple sexual partners.

Pregnant women may also be tested to prevent transmission of the infection to their babies. Pregnant women aged 25 years or younger should be routinely screened for the disease to prevent possible transmission of the infection to the baby during birth.