Is it possible to have had Chlamydia for a long time?

Is it possible to have had Chlamydia for a long time without realizing it and then have it pop up out of nowhere? I have taken all other answers into consideration but now i just need to find out if this is at all possible. i understand that it is a STD so any other possibility of it having caught it by some other means besides sex is slim to none. so what i'm asking is, is it possible that chlamydia can stay dormant for a long period of time like years?

To answer your question simply. Yes.

Have you ever been tested for chlamydia in the past?

True story: I once counseled a nun who been in a convent for over 25 years. She had ONE sexual encounter at the age of 15, unknowingly acquired chlamydia and never produced any symptoms.

Because she was celibate afterwards, there were no reasons to be tested. When she was 40 and began exhibiting signs of menopause, she came asking for a prescription for hormonal therapy.

We did a complete work-up on her and discovered, she had chlamydia. Her fallopian tubes and the inside of her uterus were scarred as a result of the infection and she had also been living with moderate endometriosis for the entire duration of her convent stay. For those who know, endometriosis is a painful condition that usually requires immediate attention with a thorough follow-up.

Lessons learned... when in doubt, get tested. Good Luck :)

Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about three quarters of infected women and about half of infected men have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.

In women, the bacteria initially infect the cervix and the urethra (urine canal). Women who have symptoms might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. When the infection spreads from the cervix to the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry fertilized eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), some women still have no signs or symptoms; others have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Chlamydial infection of the cervix can spread to the rectum.

Men with signs or symptoms might have a discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis. Pain and swelling in the testicles are uncommon.

Men or women who have receptive anal intercourse may acquire chlamydial infection in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men having oral sex with an infected partner.

Chlamydia is known as the silent epidemic because people can become infected and never have any symptoms. It's not uncommon for Chlamydia to go undetected for a long time and the person might not find out they have it until one of their sex partners begins to exibit symptoms. To answer your question, yes--it is very possible to have Chlamydia for months or even years without knowing you have it. Although, after having an STD for a long period of time, serious secondary symptoms may arise such as infertility (not being able to conceive children), so it's best to get checked out regularly. If you would like more information on STDs and symptoms you can call the Los Angeles County STD Hotline toll free at 1-800-758-0880.