Can a Man Get Chlamydia from Anal Sex?

 

Men and women who practice unprotected receptive anal sex are at risk of acquiring rectal chlamydia infections. These infections are problematic in their own right, and they may also increase an individual's risk of acquiring HIV. Fortunately, rectal chlamydia trachomatis should be largely, if not entirely, preventable by the routine practice of safe anal sex. 

 

Like other kinds of chlamydia infection, most rectal chlamydia infections reflect no symptom on the patients. However, rectal chlamydia infections can cause proctitis and related rectal symptoms.

 

Because the best chlamydia tests look directly for evidence of the organism, rather than for an immune response against it, testing for rectal chlamydia requires that the anus be swabbed. Unlike a urethral swab, a rectal/anal swab causes minimal discomfort in most individuals, and research shows that swabs can even be effectively taken by patients themselves - although this is not yet an accepted standard of care. Once the sample is taken, the swab can be tested for chlamydia trachomatis, just as would be done at any other anatomic site.

 

If you are a man, or woman, who practices unprotected receptive anal sex, consider discussing with your doctor whether rectal STD testing - including both gonorrhea and chlamydia tests and an anal pap may be a right for you. Although rectal chlamydia trachomatis infections are not often discussed, or tested for, they may be a real problem. A 2009 study of HIV positive gay men in Switzerland found that more than 10 percent had rectal chlamydia infections. A similar prevalence of rectal chlamydia infection was found in an Amsterdam based study of men and women who reported receptive anal intercourse.