It is not known how common it is for women to become infertile following a chlamydia infection but some scientists estimate that chlamydia is responsible for as many as one in five cases of infertility in women. However, chlamydia does not only affect female fertility, it can also take a toll on male fertility.
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.
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.
With early detection and the right treatment, a chlamydia infection can be cured. However, if chlamydia goes unnoticed and untreated (which is quite possible without regular sexual health screening and considering 70% of women have an asymptomatic infection[3]), it can lead to infertility and PID.
I've had chlamydia - will that make it more difficult for me to conceive? Most women who have had chlamydia won't have any difficulties conceiving that are related to the infection.
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.
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can lead to chronic pain and infertility. In men, untreated chlamydia can cause pain and swelling in one or both testicles.
If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to a considerable decline in the motility and quality of sperm, which makes conception much more difficult. Chlamydia can be passed to newborn babies and cause inclusion conjunctivitis when they have been delivered through a vaginal birth by a mother who has the infection.
Even without symptoms, the disease can cause complications, particularly infertility. The longer the infection is untreated, the more damage that can be done. If symptoms do show up, they usually occur within weeks of exposure. Men and women may face painful urination, an abnormal discharge from the urethra, or both.
Late-stage chlamydia refers to an infection that has spread to other parts of the body. For example, it may have spread to the cervix (cervicitis), testicular tubes (epididymitis), eyes (conjunctivitis), or throat (pharyngitis), causing inflammation and pain.
IVF is a popular choice for those suffering from the after-effects of chlamydia. For women who may have scarring on their fallopian tubes, the process is ideal.
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.
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.
Most people who have chlamydia don't notice any symptoms.
If you do get symptoms, these usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. For some people they don't develop until many months later. Sometimes the symptoms can disappear after a few days.
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. This can lead to long-term complications, including infertility.
In women, chlamydia can spread to the womb, ovaries or fallopian tubes. This can cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause a number of serious problems, such as: difficulty getting pregnant or infertility.
Symptoms can occur within 2-14 days after infection. However, a person may have chlamydia for months, or even years, without knowing it.
Chlamydiae exist as two stages: (1) infectious particles called elementary bodies and (2) intracytoplasmic, reproductive forms called reticulate bodies. The chlamydiae consist of three species, C trachomatis, C psittaci, and C pneumoniae.
PID is most often caused by the STDs gonorrhea or chlamydia when bacteria enter the reproductive system. PID causes scarring of the cervix, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. If left untreated, PID can cause irreversible damage resulting in infertility.
By and large, chlamydia in men will usually remain either relatively mild or dormant. Chlamydia is a non-fatal infection, and though it can cause a bevy of reproductive issues for women –– particularly if they're pregnant –– the effects it has on male fertility are often downplayed.
Men rarely have health problems from chlamydia. The infection can cause a fever and pain in the tubes attached to the testicles. This can, in rare cases, lead to infertility. Untreated chlamydia may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV.
However if the infection is left untreated in women it can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Pelvic inflammatory disease can result in serious complications, including infertility, ectopic pregnancy and long-term abdominal pain.
If they do get symptoms, the most common include: Pain when urinating. White, cloudy, or watery discharge from the tip of the penis. Burning or itching in the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body)
Chlamydia does not only damage female fertility, it damages male fertility as well. Chlamydia is the most common STD (sexually transmitted disease) in the United Kingdom.
Chlamydia can usually be effectively treated with antibiotics. More than 95% of people will be cured if they take their antibiotics correctly. You may be started on antibiotics once test results have confirmed you have chlamydia.