Chlamydia itself is a bacterial infection that cannot be seen directly without laboratory tests. However, the infection can cause visible symptoms, mainly in the form of abnormal discharge and other signs depending on the affected area.

What Chlamydia Discharge Looks Like

• In women: Vaginal discharge caused by chlamydia may be white, yellow, or gray and can have an unpleasant or strong odor. The discharge might be thicker, cloudy, or milky compared to normal vaginal fluids. Women may also experience itching, burning, pain during urination or sex, bleeding between periods, and lower abdominal pain

• In men: Penile discharge may appear clear, cloudy, white, or yellowish and can sometimes look like pus. Men might also have redness at the tip of the penis, burning or itching in the urethra, painful urination, and swelling or pain in the testicles

• Other sites: If chlamydia infects the anus, throat, or eyes, symptoms can include mucus-like discharge from the anus, redness and pain in the throat or mouth, and eye redness with discharge

Additional Visible Signs

• Some sources mention that chlamydia can sometimes cause painful sores or swollen lymph nodes in the groin, but this is less common and more typical of other STIs

Important Notes

• Many people with chlamydia have no visible symptoms at all, especially in early stages. At least 70% of women and 50% of men may be asymptomatic

• Because symptoms like discharge can vary and overlap with other infections, chlamydia cannot be diagnosed by appearance alone. Laboratory testing is necessary for confirmation

In summary, chlamydia "looks like" abnormal discharge that is often white, yellow, or gray, sometimes thick or cloudy, and may have a foul smell, accompanied by other symptoms such as pain or itching. However, the infection itself is not visible without medical testing