Can You Masturbate While Having Chlamydia? What You Need to Know

Millions of new chlamydia recoveries every year make it the most prevalent STI globally. You may be wondering if masturbation is acceptable to do when you are under therapy if you have just been diagnosed. Most everyone loves to do masturbation on a daily basis, as it is natural and normal. The good news? Masturbation does not transmit chlamydia, unlike sex. But you should take great care to avoid discomfort, reinfection, or delayed healing.

03 March 2025

8 min read

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Learning About Chlamydia and How It Impacts the Body

Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, an infection that can be detected in the eyes, throat, genitalia, and rectum. Since most individuals do not have any symptoms, it most often goes unnoticed. However, when symptoms do occur, they may be:

Pain or discomfort when urinating or using the bathroom
Pain when urinating
Abnormal vaginal, rectal, or penile discharge
Lower abdominal pain

Infertility problems can arise from chlamydia if the infection is not treated. In women, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and in men, epididymitis, which is inflammation of the tubes surrounding the testicles. Early detection and treatment cannot be emphasized enough.

Does a Diagnosis of Chlamydia Prevent Masturbation?

From a medical standpoint, masturbation while having chlamydia is not so bad, according to medical experts. But wait, there are three things to consider:

The Risk of Contracting an Infectious Disease Alone

The infection will have a chance of spreading to the rest of your body if you handle infected body fluids and touch somewhere else, such as your eyes.

Since chlamydia is transmitted to the neck and eyes if it's used as a lubricant, this is particularly important to remember if you are using saliva.

An inflamed and delayed-healing vaginal area is one of the signs of chlamydia that can also cause inflammation. Excessive or rough masturbation can increase inflammation and delay healing.

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Reusing Infected Sexual Devices or Hands

It's possible to re-infect with bacteria, even after antibiotics have begun, if sexual devices aren't cleaned.

The same is true in not washing hands thoroughly after being exposed to vaginal secretions.

How to Masturbate Safely When You Have Chlamydia

To reduce the risk of complication, follow these tips if you want to masturbate while recuperating from chlamydia:

Washing hands before and after: To avoid transmitting germs, wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling something that could be infectious.
Avoid using saliva as a lubricant: The disease can transfer to the throat and mouth by saliva. Replace lubricants with water-based or silicone-based lubricants.
Take it easy: In order to avoid letting the discomfort aggravate, care should be taken to stimulate the area lightly.
Clean the sex toys properly: Sanitize sex toys thoroughly using antibacterial soap or a toy cleaner after each use.
Don't masturbate if you have open sores: In order to prevent further infection, do not touch any areas where there could be chlamydia ulcers or lesions on the vagina.
Wait for the antibiotics to work: For the 7–10 days that you will be taking antibiotics, your doctor will probably instruct you to avoid sexual contact of any kind, including masturbating with toys.

Research and Expert Opinion

Other than sexual intercourse, chlamydia transmission risks have been the topic of other studies.

Saliva masturbation was linked with increased vagina and mouth reinfection rates, according to a study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Due to bacteria that are left on the skin and reinfect the same person, self-infection of genitals is a component in long-term recovery from chlamydia, according to another study published on PubMed.

Masturbation itself is not harmful, but well-defined procedures are required to avoid reinfection or longer healing.

The Truth About Masturbation During Chlamydia: People's Testimonials

To get answers regarding masturbation and STIs, the majority of people with chlamydia go to online forums and social media. Some of the people who have tried everything have shared their experiences here:

Reddit user r/STDhelp posted, "my doctor told me it's okay to masturbate but to make sure you don't use spit as lube. Everything got better after I followed that."

"A patient developed chlamydia in their eye after touching and rubbing their face," states the physician from JustAnswer Medical Advice. Wash your hands very carefully! - Matthew L. Reynolds, M.D.

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What Most People Don't Know About Chlamydia and Masturbation

Many people have the wrong information about masturbation and chlamydia. Some of the most prevalent myths have been dispelled:

"Masturbation can make chlamydia worse or delay recovery."

This isn't accurate - masturbation has no direct impact on how quickly your body recovers from chlamydia. Hard masturbation, however, can exacerbate symptoms by irritating and hurting.

"You cannot infect yourself with chlamydia."

False - Although chlamydia is not transmitted through the air, it is possible to transmit it to the eyes (chlamydial conjunctivitis) or throat by touching infected fluids on dirty hands.

"Chlamydia is only spread during sex."

The most widely known way in which chlamydia is transmitted is through sexual intercourse, but it can also be transmitted via infected sex toys, hands, or other bodily fluids like saliva for lubrication.

"Once you start antibiotics, it's okay to masturbate immediately."

Risk of irritation might be reduced if one waits a few days of treatment before one masturbates, but there is no need to abstain entirely.

"You do not need to clean sex toys if you are the sole person using them."

It isn't true - Chlamydia bacteria can live on surfaces for up to several hours. You'll end up re-inflecting yourself by using a soiled toy after treatment.

FAQs

1.- I have chlamydia; may I masturbate?

Yes, but be cautious. Masturbation by itself is not harmful to health, but precautions should be taken to prevent reinfection, e.g., rough handling, saliva as lubricant, or unclean hands or sex toys.

2.- Once antibiotics have been started, how long can one safely masturbate?

Allowing a few days after the start of treatment is recommended by doctors. Resting until there is soreness or irritation that heals before going back is recommended.

3.- Can chlamydia be passed on to other areas of the body?

Even though chlamydia is not found to live on hands, touching infected vaginal discharge and then another place without first washing will pass the infection to your mouth or eyes.

4.- Can one contract chlamydia when masturbating alone, without a sex partner?

Since you're probably not already infected with chlamydia yourself, you won't "get" it by yourself. However, chlamydia is capable of infecting or recurring in other zones if you aren't clean afterwards.

5.- Is there some risk associated with using a dildo when infected with chlamydia?

Yes, as long as you give it a proper clean down afterwards. Toys have to be cleaned with antibacterial soap because bacteria can linger on surfaces.

6.- Should one who has chlamydia altogether abstain from masturbation?

That is not strictly the case. Abstaining until the irritation or discomfort of masturbating diminishes is the best option.

7.- Is it possible to contract chlamydia through self-masturbation?

In fact, chlamydia is capable of infecting the eyes if you do not wash your hands after you insert your privates into them. Cholangitis is the real medical name for this.

8.- Is it safe to use chlamydia in combination with lubrication when masturbating?

Sure, but try not to use your saliva as lubricant. Lubricants that are water-based or made of silicone are the most secure choices.

9.- Is it possible for masturbation to lead to an inaccurate chlamydia test result?

A chlamydia test will still come back accurate if you masturbate. A false negative result could occur, though, if testing is done too soon after exposure.

10.- Will my libido be impacted by the treatment of chlamydia?

Antibiotics produce light side effects such as fatigue in some people but do not have any impact on libido.

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Important Things to Remember

It is typically safe to masturbate while suffering from chlamydia, but precautions have to be observed and one must maintain proper cleanliness to prevent any discomfort and re-infection. Remember the following important things:

Be sure to wash hands both before and after.
Don't use saliva as lubrication to avoid having an illness brought to the mouth or throat.
Gentleness will stop you from inflaming.
Be sure to clean sex toys good after every use.
If ever a pain is felt, stop what you're doing and watch if it is going to heal.

Get Tested for Chlamydia Now!

The first thing you have to do if you think you have chlamydia or have been exposed to chlamydia is get tested right away. You can easily, correctly, and confidentially check your status with home STD testing rather than going to a clinic. Be in control of your sexual health now.