Doxycycline is an antibiotic used to treat a range of bacterial infections, including chlamydia. Doxycycline is the first choice treatment option for chlamydia because it is proven to be highly effective.[1]
Usually, one capsule is taken twice a day for seven days.
Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STI) in the world. According to WHO, in 2020 the estimated global rate of new infections was 128.5 million.[2] It’s most common amongst teenagers and young people, and is transmitted through unprotected sex.
Common symptoms include:
painful urination
discharge from the vagina, penis or anus
in women, pain in the stomach and bleeding after sex
in men, pain and swelling in the testicles
Some people do not experience symptoms when they have chlamydia. It’s advised that men and women under 25 who regularly engage in unprotected sex get tested for chlamydia once a year.
To get treatment for chlamydia, you need to provide a positive test result. You can get a test at your local sexual health clinic and upload the result for a clinician to review.
If your partner has tested positive for chlamydia you can sometimes be prescribed treatment without providing a test result for yourself.
How does Doxycycline work for chlamydia?
Doxycycline kills the infection by attacking the bacteria that cause it and stopping it from multiplying. Doxycycline passes into the bacteria and binds to the protein chains within it. This weakens the bacteria and prevents them from thriving.
You should be infection free within 7-14 days of finishing the course (but you should still wait two full weeks until after finishing the course before having sex).
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Mr Craig Marsh on January 10, 2024. Next review due on January 10, 2027.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
DoxycyclineDoxycycline
How to take Doxycycline for chlamydia
If you don’t have a positive test result but your partner has tested positive, you’ll need to take a test before you start your course of treatment.
If you’ve got a positive test result, a clinician will usually tell you to take one 100mg capsule twice daily for seven days.
You should take Doxycycline as follows:
Swallow each capsule whole with a glass of water
Take your capsule at the same time each day
Sit or stand when taking your capsules
Avoid lying down for thirty minutes after taking your capsule because it needs to move straight to your stomach
If you experience stomach irritation, take your capsule with milk or a meal.
How long does it take Doxycycline to work?
oxycycline takes about seven days to kill the chlamydia infection, although some clinical studies show that it can take as little as three days.[1] But even if you feel like your infection has gone, you should still finish the course as prescribed.
After finishing your course of treatment you should wait for at least seven days before having vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex or sharing toys, so that you don’t risk passing on the infection to someone else.
What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Doxycycline?
If you make a mistake when taking Doxycycline, it’s important that you contact the clinician who prescribed it for you. If you’re taking it for chlamydia you may need to restart the course or take a different treatment. It’s really important not to have sex until you have completed a full course of treatment exactly as prescribed by the clinician because you risk passing on the infection to someone else.
If you forget to take your medicine, you shouldn’t take a double dose. Take your capsule as soon as you remember, and then continue the course of treatment as prescribed.
You should contact our clinician if you have any questions about how to take your medicine.
Treated trusted source:
Reedy, M B et al. “Evaluation of 3-Day Course of Doxycycline for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Chlamydia trachomatis Cervicitis.” Infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology vol. 5,1 (1997): 18-22. doi:10.1155/S1064744997000069
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Mr Craig Marsh on January 10, 2024. Next review due on January 10, 2027.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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Doxycycline isn’t suitable for everyone, and there are some things that you need to be aware of when taking it.
Here’s all the official info on it. If anything is unclear, let the clinician know, and they can talk with you about it.
DoxycyclineDoxycycline
Doxycycline: FAQ
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Do I need a prescription for Doxycycline?
Answer:
If you are starting Doxycycline treatment for chlamydia you’ll need a prescription for it. You will also need a positive test result. If your partner has tested positive, you can sometimes start treatment while you wait for the result of your test. Prescription and testing are important parts of your treatment as they ensure that you have chlamydia, and not another infection for which a different antibiotic might be more effective.
How is Doxycycline different from other treatments for chlamydia?
Answer:
Doxycycline is the first choice antibiotic used to treat chlamydia. Azithromycin is sometimes prescribed as an alternative if Doxycycline is not suitable.
Doxycycline and Azithromycin are both antibiotics and both work in the same way, but the way you take them is different. Azithromycin is a three day course, and Doxycycline a seven day course.
Do I need to have a positive test result to order Doxycycline for chlamydia?
Answer:
You will need proof of a positive test result to order Doxycycline for chlamydia.
If you don’t already have proof of a positive test, you should go and get tested at your nearest sexual health clinic, or by your primary care physician.
If your partner has tested positive for chlamydia, you can sometimes begin your treatment before your test result comes back from the lab. But you’ll need to take your test sample before starting the treatment.
How effective is Doxycycline at treating chlamydia?
Answer:
Doxycycline is the most effective treatment for chlamydia. Scientific analysis shows that Doxycycline can have a 100% success rate when a course of treatment is followed correctly.[1]
Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in the USA. It is becoming resistant to antibiotics like Doxycycline. This doesn’t mean Doxycycline won’t work, but it can become less effective if you do not follow the treatment exactly as your clinician has told you to.
Treated trusted source:
William M. Geisler et al. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2015.
Last updated on Jan 09, 2024.
How we reviewed this page:
Our experts continually monitor new findings in health and medicine, and we update our articles when new info becomes available.
Jan 09, 2024
Published by: The Treated Content Team.Medically reviewed by: Mr Craig Marsh, Clinical Reviewer
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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Pharmacy prescriber Craig is based in the UK and regularly reviews our content to ensure clinical accuracy. On pages he's checked, you'll see his reviewer card.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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