The Importance of Health Checks

3 Serious Complications of Untreated Chlamydia Than Can Cause Infertility in Women

15 June 2016 by Roberta Craig

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious health problems, many of them unique to women. Unfortunately, it is estimated that at least 70% of women affected don't notice any symptoms, so the condition frequently goes ignored. This lack of symptoms might lead women to assume that chlamydia is nothing to worry about, but it actually increases their risk of many health issues that will damage their reproductive health.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

When the germs that cause a chlamydia infection spread to the womb, ovaries, or the fallopian tubes, further conditions can result. One of the most important is PID, a severe infection of the upper genital tract that often results in vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. Sufferers may also experience discomfort during sexual intercourse. More importantly, the resultant damage to the fallopian tubes can cause women to become infertile; in fact, it is predicted that 1 in 10 women who develop PID will become infertile as a result, with the risk increasing the longer it goes untreated.

Stillbirth and Preterm Birth

Anyone suffering from untreated chlamydia while pregnant will risk passing the infection on to the foetus. Several infections can occur as a result of this transmission, including eye infections and lung infections. However, chlamydia can also seriously interfere with your pregnancy in more significant ways. One team of researchers found that the infection was associated with a 17% increased risk of SPTB (Spontaneous Preterm Birth) and a 40% increased risk for stillbirth.

Salpingitis

Salpingitis refers to an inflammation of one or both of the fallopian tubes. This inflammation can be caused by several bacteria and germs, including those found in gonorrhoea, but chlamydia also presents a significant risk factor. This is because salpingitis stimulates excess fluid secretion, and sometimes pus, within the fallopian tubes, making it harder for eggs to travel along them. Unfortunately, infection will often spread to both tubes. This makes salpingitis a common cause of infertility in women.

Chlamydia can be difficult to identify, although the most common indications include vaginal discharge, abdominal pain, bleeding between periods or after sex, and pain while urinating. Luckily, it can be treated effectively with antibiotics, but the conditions described above will become more likely to occur if you fail to seek out treatment quickly. If you have any reason to think that you have chlamydia, even if no symptoms present themselves, make sure you see a medical professional as soon as possible in a centre of women's health care Warilla or other areas may have.

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