Chlamydia Symptoms

If untreated, infection can progress to serious complications, up to infertility. Like the disease itself its consequences may be hidden.

In women, the infection can spread to the uterus and fallopian tube and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This happens in almost 40% of infected women. Inflammation damages the fallopian tubes, uterus and surrounding tissues. Damage may result in chronic pelvic pain, infertility, as well as a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy. Women infected with chlamydia infection are nearly five times more likely to be infected with HIV through contact with HIV-positive.

To prevent the serious consequences of chlamydia, you must at least once a year pass screening. Women and men younger than 25 years should undergo this medical examination twice a year. The annual survey is recommended for older women, who have relations with new sexual partner. All pregnant women should be tested for chlamydia.

In men, complications are much rarer. Infection sometimes spreads to the testicles, which causes pain, fever and in rare cases infertility.

Very rarely, a form of genital chlamydial infection can cause arthritis that can be accompanied by skin lesions and inflammation of the eye and urethra (Reiter’s syndrome).