Chlamydia is the type of the silent disease which means that usually presents no symptoms, and the statistics said that 75% of women and 50% of men would not experience any indications that they have a sexually transmitted disease. This type of disease is dangerous for pregnant women, and even fatal for the baby if it is not treated. If you want to find out more about chlamydia, just continue reading this article.
What is Chlamydia?
This is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria called chlamydia trachomatis, and it can be present in the vaginal fluid and sperm. It can also be found in the anus, throat, and eyes.
How is it Spread?
Chlamydia is spread through the sexual acts that involve mouth, penis, vagina, and anus.
All pregnant women are screened for STDs at one of the first prenatal appointments because the women can be exposed to STDs if they had sex with the infected partner during the pregnancy. If you doubt you have chlamydia just do a quick test and be sure.
Symptoms of Chlamydia in Women
Usually, the chlamydia is asymptomatic but some women will experience symptoms such as fever, pain during urination, nausea, pain during intercourse, bleeding between periods, pain in lower back and abdomen…
The Risk to Mother During the Pregnancy
No matter if a woman is pregnant or not chlamydia can cause huge damage to its reproductive system. You must treat your infection because the chlamydia will migrate from the vagina into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This condition can lead to a pelvic inflammatory disease PID.
Can Chlamydia Cause a Miscarriage?
Chlamydia can cause miscarriage and preterm birth if is present in the mother’s body because she can damage the fallopian tubes, which can increase the chance of having an ectopic pregnancy. This type of pregnancy must be treated, and it ends in termination because it can not be relocated into the uterus.
Risk to Baby
If the mother has chlamydia baby is on the risk because this disease cause ruptured membranes, low birth weight, miscarriage, and it can be passed onto the baby at birth. If Chlamydia is spread to a newborn baby can get conjunctivitis or CT pneumonia. The eyes infection can lead to eye inflammation with redness, swelling, and discharge, and the newborns with CT pneumonia have a bigger chance of asthma later.
How is it Diagnosed in Women?
At the beginning of a pregnancy, chlamydia can be screened with the combination of two simple tests, a urine specimen, and a cervical swab. Sometimes is enough just one test to confirm this bacteria.
How is it Treated?
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics, but you should be careful in pregnancy because not every antibiotic you can use during this particular period.
If you want to learn more about this topic check yourdoctors.online and find all the answers. You can even get in touch with a doctor and ask a question.