Chlamydia During Pregnancy: Causes, Signs, Risks & Treatment
The sooner the diagnosis, the better the treatment outcome for both the mother and baby.
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In This Article
Chlamydia in pregnancy can cause several health issues such as cervical bleeding and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. You may seek medical attention for an exact diagnosis since it is not the only cause of bleeding in pregnancy.
Both men and women can be affected by chlamydia bacterial infection. Although it is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), most people with chlamydia are unaware of their infection since there are no signs and symptoms (asymptomatic).
Read on to know about the symptoms, treatment, and outcomes of chlamydia in pregnancy.
Causes Of Chlamydia
Chlamydia is caused by the transmission of a specific bacterium through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, anus, or mouth of the infected partner. An infected male does not need to ejaculate to transmit chlamydia, and transmission through toilet seats or by sharing towels or cups is impossible (1) (2).
Symptoms Of Chlamydia In Pregnancy
According to the American Pregnancy Association, most pregnant women with chlamydia are asymptomatic. However, some may experience the following symptoms (3):
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Burning sensation or pain while passing urine
Complications Of Chlamydia On Pregnancy
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infected pregnant women may experience complications during pregnancy, including preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes (4).
Chlamydia can also cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infecting the womb and the fallopian tubes. PID can lead to fertility problems in the future, ectopic pregnancy, or long-term abdominal pains (1).
Complications Of Chlamydia On The Fetus
A major risk of maternal chlamydia is transmission to the newborn during childbirth through the vaginal canal (perinatal transmission). Therefore, the CDC recommends chlamydia testing in the first trimester for all pregnant women. Babies exposed to maternal chlamydia may develop eye and lung infections (such as pneumonia) and require antibiotics for treatment (4). Chlamydia is also responsible for low birth weight in newborns (3).
Diagnosing Chlamydia
Chlamydia can be easily diagnosed by testing swab samples from the vagina, cervix, anus, or penis. Sometimes, a urine test may also be performed. If your partner tests positive for chlamydial infection, it is important to get yourself tested (3).
Treatment Of Chlamydia During Pregnancy
Antibiotics are the primary treatment for chlamydia. Azithromycin is the first choice of antibiotics and is completely safe in pregnancy (1). It is essential to avoid sexual intercourse during the entire course of treatment and a week beyond that. The infected mother is tested again three months after the treatment is completed.
When one person tests positive, they should inform all their sexual partners to get tested and treated to prevent the further spread of infection. If your partner tests positive but you test negative, you should still get treatment.
Repeated infections of chlamydia are common. Women with sex partners who have not completed their treatment are more likely to get infected again. Male latex condoms and water-based lubricants could effectively prevent most STIs, including chlamydia (3).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long can I have chlamydia before it causes any issues?
The symptoms of chlamydia appear one to three weeks after getting infected. The symptoms may be mild, but prompt treatment is necessary to avoid adverse outcomes (6). Experts recommend that all pregnant women get screened for sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, during their first antenatal visit.
2. Why do I have to wait three months to retest for chlamydia?
Chlamydia is retested after three months to look for re-infection (7). Early detection can help treat the infection in its early stages and prevent the adversities it may cause if it goes undetected.
3. Can chlamydia cause bumps?
Chlamydia may cause bumps on the skin. They usually resolve without treatment. However, they are contagious as long as they stay.
Chlamydia infection can go undiagnosed; therefore, a preventative screening during prenatal visits can be helpful, especially for women with multiple sexual partners. If you are experiencing any symptoms of chlamydia, contact your healthcare professional at the earliest to avoid any long-term repercussions. Furthermore, informing all sexual partners about one’s positive results can help break the chain of infection.
Key Pointers
- Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection affecting pregnant women.
- Vaginal pain, discharge, burning while urinating, bleeding after intercourse are common signs of this infection.
- This infection poses risks of complications in pregnancy, such as premature membrane rupture, ectopic pregnancy, womb infection, chronic abdominal pain, preterm labor, and birth.
- Antibiotics medications like Azithromycin are safe and effective in controlling the infection in pregnancy.
- Having protected sex is essential to prevent STDs like chlamydia during pregnancy.
References
- Chlamydia and pregnancy.
https://www.nhsaaa.net/media/7426/20190611chlamydiapregnancy.pdf - Chlamydia – CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed).
https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia-detailed.htm - Chlamydia and pregnancy.
https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/chlamydia-and-pregnancy - STDs during Pregnancy – CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed).
https://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/stdfact-pregnancy-detailed.htm - Chlamydia During Pregnancy.
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-complications/chlamydia-during-pregnancy/ - Chlamydia Can Lead to Infertility.
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=chlamydia-can-lead-to-infertility-1-2517 - Best Practices and Early Detection of Repeat Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infections: Effective Partner Treatment and Patient Retesting Strategies for Implementation in California Health Care Settings.
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Best_Practices_for_Preventing_RepeatCT_Inf.pdf
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