Contacting Sexual Partners
Anyone who tests positive for chlamydia is encouraged to notify all their sexual partners from the last six months. This process is often referred to as contact tracing, or partner notification.
As chlamydia is highly contagious these sexual partners will usually be treated. Treatment is simple and involves taking antibiotics.
With chlamydia infection on the rise in Australia, contact tracing plays an important role in lowering infection rates, and thereby improving the sexual health of all people, and particularly young people who are most at risk. Information on the health risks of chlamydia can be found on the About Chlamydia section of this website.
Most people don’t know they have chlamydia and do not intentionally pass it on. It is generally not possible to tell who gave chlamydia to whom. The infection can sometimes be present for a long time, even years, without causing any symptoms.
Contact tracing is not about identifying who infected whom, or placing blame. It is about helping people, and preventing further infections from taking place. Helping partners to be treated for chlamydia may not only prevent serious health problems for them, but can also reduce the chance of others being infected.