The infection may also be passed vertically (from the pregnant person to the baby) during delivery.
It is sometimes referred to as a silent infection for this reason.
Studies suggest that 5% to 30% of females with chlamydia will have symptoms.
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It may take weeks from exposure to chlamydia for symptoms to develop.
They will be able to arrange tests to confirm if you have the infection.
Diagnosing Chlamydia
Chlamydia can only be formally diagnosed following tests.
A vaginal swab is the best specimen to test for people with a vagina.
In some cases, a person may choose to self-collect a vaginal swab.
Is It Possible to Get Chlamydia While Pregnant?
Pregnant people can contract STIs in the same way people who aren’t pregnant can be infected.
Pregnancy offers no additional protection from STIs.
Having condomless sex while pregnant can still expose a pregnant person to chlamydia and other STIs.
Chlamydia is the most common STI in the United States.
In 2018 there were roughly 4 million chlamydial infections in the United States.
Roughly 1 in 20 people between ages 14 and 24 who are sexually active have chlamydia.
How Will Chlamydia Affect My Pregnancy?
Complications can result from having chlamydia while pregnant.
Can My Newborn Get Chlamydia From Me?
They may also develop infections of the lungs likepneumoniaor eye infections likeconjunctivitis.
Chlamydia Complications
A chlamydia infection can lead to a variety of complications.
If left untreated, chlamydia can spread to thefallopian tubesanduterus(womb).
This can causepelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Reactive arthritis can cause pain or inflammation in the joints.
Treatment may either be a one-off dose of antibiotics or a course of antibiotics every day for seven days.
These include:
Those being treated for chlamydia should refrain from having sex until the infection has passed.
It is possible to be infected with chlamydia while pregnant.
Pregnancy offers no protection from STIs.
Pregnant people with chlamydia may experience a variety of complications, including preterm labor and low birth weight.
Chlamydia can be successfully treated with antibiotics, and these drugs are safe for pregnant people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chlamydia can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
Pregnant people can safely take the antibiotics used to treat this infection.
Chlamydia can be passed on to a baby during delivery.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STDs during pregnancy CDC fact sheet
NHS.Symptoms - chlamydia.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby.Chlamydia and pregnancy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia CDC fact sheet.
NHS.Side effects - antibiotics.
Horne AW, Wheelhouse N, Horner PJ, Duncan WC.Association of pastchlamydia trachomatisinfection with miscarriage.JAMA Netw Open.
2020;3(10):e2018799.
