Chlamydia is a common infection that can only be spread through sexual contact, but can you get chlamydia without cheating? To the surprise of many people, it is indeed possible to contract a sexually transmitted infection while remaining faithful.
The definition of “cheating” may vary from relationship to relationship, but sexual contact with a person other than your partner is generally accepted as crossing the line. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are usually spread through sexual behavior, with a few exceptions. Because of this fact, it is understandable to suspect infidelity if your partner has a positive chlamydia test.
But does that mean they cheated? Possibly, but it’s important to look beyond the typical stigma associated with STDs and consider the factors that make chlamydia different from other diseases. As always, if you suspect you have contracted an STD from a partner, to be tested and treated is the best course of action in the short term.
Does chlamydia mean your partner is cheating?
Chlamydia is a notoriously asymptomatic disease bacterial STD and it can take weeks for the body to develop antibodies. For these reasons, a positive chlamydia test is not a reliable sign of infidelity, especially if you are in a new relationship.
How do you get chlamydia without cheating?
Aside from cheating, the most likely explanation for a partner’s positive chlamydia test would be that the infection existed before the relationship. The bacteria that causes chlamydia has many characteristics that make identifying the infection quite difficult until it starts to cause problems.
Asymptomatic
STDs are notoriously difficult to identify because they are common asymptomatic nature, as clarified by the CDC This means that someone can have the infection but may not show any noticeable symptoms that would otherwise prompt them to get tested.
Due to the lack of complaints, you or your partner may have had a pre-existing chlamydia infection before your current relationship. This can also be the cause of confusing situations where one partner tests positive while the other partner tests positive partner claims not to have an STD. They may not be aware of the infection.
Symptoms Commonality
Another aspect to take into account is the wrong diagnosis of symptoms. As explained by the CDCWhen chlamydia causes signs of infection, it is most common to experience burning urination or abnormal discharge. Both can easily cause confusion between urinary tract infections and STDs—delaying awareness and treatment.
Extended incubation period
All STDs also have a period between contraction and the start of infection, called Incubation period. During this period, antibodies still need to be produced in the body in retaliation against the bacteria. Most STD tests use the presence of these antibodies as an indicator of a positive infection. Therefore, if someone is tested too early, the test may give a false negative result and the chlamydia infection may develop unnoticed.
In case your partner initially tested negative and later in the relationship tested positive, this is a likely cause for such conflicting information.
What should you do if your partner has chlamydia?
Like other STDs, untreated chlamydia can cause complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. For this reason, early detection and prompt treatment of chlamydia are crucial for ensuring sexual health. And while infidelity is an understandable concern, a chlamydia infection doesn’t necessarily guarantee that your partner will cheat.
If your partner needs to have a positive chlamydia test, you may want to consider this chlamydia testing and treatment too. Until treatment is completed, the CDC emphasizes the importance of abstaining from sexual activity. This ensures that you are both thoroughly treated for the bacterial infection, eliminating the risk of reinfection.
Ultimately, the relationship between chlamydia and cheating is largely due to the stigma of STDs. Although chlamydia is only spread through sexual contact, other factors, such as the lack of symptoms and the incubation period, suggest that you can get chlamydia without cheating.