Whether it affects your fertility depends on whether the infection spreads. The general rule is: The quicker you treat it, the better. However, the fact that you have had chlamydia for several years does not necessarily mean that you are infertile.
There is no time for how long a chlamydia infection must remain in the system to cause infertility, because every body is different. It can take from weeks to two years. Chlamydia can lead to infertility in women due to the amount of scarring it causes to their internal reproductive organs.
Untreated chlamydia can lead to further infection, infertility, pregnancy complications, chronic pain, and more. Complications may be different for males and females, but both can develop reactive arthritis, which affects the joints, urinary tract, and eyes.
Untreated, about 10-15% of women with chlamydia will develop PID. Chlamydia can also cause fallopian tube infection without any symptoms. PID and “silent” infection in the upper genital tract may cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues, which can lead to infertility.
Without medical intervention, a chlamydia infection can persist for years if gone unnoticed [1]. Fortunately, once diagnosed, a healthcare provider can provide patients with the right medication to treat the sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Although some symptoms can appear within weeks of contact, there have been reports of chlamydia remaining dormant for over twenty years.
How long can you have chlamydia for? An untreated chlamydia infection can persist for several years. Although this goes for both men and women, it is believed that men are less likely to carry the bacteria for several years. If you remain infected for a long time you have an increased risk of complications.
The general rule is: The quicker you treat it, the better. However, the fact that you have had chlamydia for several years does not necessarily mean that you are infertile.
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. If you or your female partner are over the age of 35, you should see a fertility specialist after six months. After age 40, we recommend seeking help right away because we know fertility declines as age increases.
Blood tests to detect tubal damage from chlamydia
The swab test can also miss an infection that has moved up into the uterus or tubes and is no longer in the cervix. Blood tests can also be performed to detect the antibodies the body makes when exposed to the chlamydia bacteria.
If chlamydia is left untreated, it can spread to the womb and cause a serious condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is a major cause of ectopic pregnancy and infertility in women.
On the other hand, if you don't get tested or don't see a healthcare provider for treatment, chlamydia can live in the body for weeks, months, or even years without being detected.
Symptoms can occur within 2-14 days after infection. However, a person may have chlamydia for months, or even years, without knowing it.
Many women, and some men, are infected with chlamydia but don't know it. Even without symptoms, the disease can cause complications, particularly infertility. The longer the infection is untreated, the more damage that can be done.
Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted microorganisms. Ascending from the lower genital tract, chlamydial infection can lead to serious reproductive consequences including infertility [5]. It was estimated that the proportion of tubal infertility caused by chlamydia had reached 45% [5].
PID can be treated successfully, if diagnosed and treated early. But any damage that may have been caused to the reproductive system cannot be reversed. This is why regular testing for chlamydia, and immediate treatment, is important.
Infertility is when a couple cannot get pregnant (conceive) despite having regular unprotected sex. Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving. About 84% of couples will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex (every 2 or 3 days).
What Causes Infertility? Problems with ovulation are the most common reasons for infertility in women. A woman's age, hormonal imbalances, weight, exposure to chemicals or radiation and cigarette smoking all have an impact on fertility.
There is no single best test for infertility. Doctors use a variety of ways to identify any problems that might help cause fertility trouble. You may get a Pap smear, which is used to detect abnormal cells around the cervix.
Chlamydia won't turn into syphilis if it's left untreated for a long period of time. But it can cause PID — pelvic inflammatory disease — in women. PID is a serious infection that harms the reproductive organs. And untreated chlamydia in men can cause a condition called epididymitis.
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can lead to chronic pain and infertility.
How long does chlamydia last? With treatment, chlamydia should go away within a week or two, however, the test may remain positive for 4 weeks after treatment. It's important to take all antibiotics to fight the infection. Don't have sex during treatment, or you could get reinfected.
Note that untreated chlamydia will stick around for multiple years or longer and have long-term effects on your health.
This test detects a chlamydia infection, the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. A chlamydia test looks for the bacteria that cause the infection (Chlamydia trachomatis). For this test, you provide a urine sample.