Can Chlamydia Go Away Without Treatment?

Can Chlamydia Go Away Without Treatment?

STDs are such an odious prospect for some people that they’d rather ignore their existence than get tested –– even when they desperately need to. Alternatively, others believe that because infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia are relatively common, they’re not dangerous. What’s more, some factions seem to think that their immune system will “heal” STDs after a period of time. Can chlamydia go away without treatment, though? What about other STDs? The short answer is no on both counts. We’ll explain why, here:

Which STDs Will Go Away on Their Own?

None of them –– as far as we know. Here’s the main problem with determining if the human immune system can tackle STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, etc.: scientists would have to find someone with the infection who was willing to forgo treatment and live with the STD for months (perhaps years) at a time. Ignoring for a moment the serious ethical and medical reasons why such an experiment should never occur, it also wouldn’t prove conclusive one way or another. Without large sample sizes, scientists would have no way of knowing if their results were reflective of the human population as a whole. From the few instances that doctors have noted, though, STDs will typically remain in the system without treatment.

Asymptomatic STDs

Perhaps you’ve heard a story of someone who had an STD that “went away” after a few weeks. In fact, scores of people have contracted STDs only to notice their symptoms dissipate or disappear completely –– without treatment. The key distinction here is that many STDs can and do exist in asymptomatic forms. That means, even if you don’t notice any outward manifestations, the STD could still persist in your system. Note, don’t be fooled if bumps, chancres, or other sores clear up following a sexual encounter. It’s entirely possible that you still have an asymptomatic STD.

The Danger of Untreated STDs

Though you may be hesitant to get tested for STDs, the alternative of letting an STD go untreated is both unwise and potentially life-threatening. Indeed, STDs like HIV obviously can cause a host of health problems if left alone, but even bacterial infections like syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, can contribute to issues like infertility, tissue scarring, and damage to other internal organs. The good news in this relatively negative blog post is that plenty of STDs can be easily cured with antibiotics. And viral STDs like HIV and herpes can be managed with antiviral medication.