What is a serious complication of chlamydia?
Chlamydia can sometimes spread and cause serious problems if not treated. The following conditions can be associated with Chlamydia trachomatis: (7)
Complications in women
Due to anatomical and genetic differences, women are more likely to develop chlamydia complications compared to men. THese include;
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
The chlamydia bacteria can spread to the womb, ovaries, and fallopian tubes in women. The result of this can be a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). There are several serious problems that can result from PID, such as:
- Infertility or difficulty getting pregnant
- Pain in the pelvic region that persists (chronic)
- An increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (implantation of a fertilized egg outside the womb)
As with chlamydia, PID is characterized by bleeding between periods and after sex, pain during urination, and discomfort or pain during sex. The usual treatment for PID is a 2-week course of antibiotics. It’s important to seek medical advice and checkup as soon as possible if you are experiencing symptoms of infertility. Early treatment reduces the risk of infertility.
Pregnancy complications
There’s a chance an expecting mother could pass the infection to your baby if you’re not treated for chlamydia while you’re pregnant. As a result, your baby could develop a lung infection (pneumonia) or an eye infection (conjunctivitis). When your baby has symptoms of these conditions, your midwife or doctor can order a chlamydia test, and antibiotics can be prescribed to treat the infection. Chlamydia in pregnancy may also increase your baby’s chances of having a low birthweight or premature labor (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), if untreated.
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Chronic pelvic pain may result from pelvic inflammatory disease. Approximately 30% of females who have had PID due to chlamydia will develop this complication.
Ectopic pregnancy
Implantation occurs when a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube. There are many complications that could pose a life-threatening situation if the pregnancy is not removed. A chlamydia infection increases the risk of complications.
Female infertility
Scarring of the fallopian tubes can result from infection and inflammation in PID. Scarring blocks the passage of sperm into the fallopian tube, preventing fertilization and resulting in infertility. Around 20% of females who develop PID will experience infertility. Surgical intervention can be used to remove scarring in the fallopian tubes, but may increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
Complications in men
Complications do occur in males too, although they are less common than in females. (8)
Infection near the testicles (epididymitis)
Chlamydia can cause swollen and painful testicles and epididymis (tubes that carry sperm from the testicles) in men. These symptoms can include fever, scrotal swelling, and pain. It is also known as epididymitis and epididymo-orchitis. There are very few cases of this.
Antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat inflammation. You could lose your fertility if you don’t get it treated.
Prostate gland infection
Chlamydia rarely spreads to men’s prostate glands. Symptoms of prostateitis include lower back pain, fever and chills, pain during or after sex, and painful urination.
Male Infertility
Epididymitis caused by Chlamydia may or may not lead to male infertility. The condition can cause chronic pelvic pain.
Complications in both men and women
Given below are some of the common complications that can develop in both males and females, including;
Rectal Scarring and Fissures
In rare cases, inflammation of the rectum can result in scarring and fissures, which create abnormal channels from the rectum to another region or outside of the body.
Cervical Cancer Risk
It has been debated whether chlamydia infections increase the risk of cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). According to a 2016 review of 22 studies, HPV and chlamydia infection doubles the risk of cervical cancer. Chlamydia was an independent predictor of cervical cancer in 11 of the studies. Chlamydia may enhance HPV-caused cancer-causing changes by inflaming the pelvic organs. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that, in general, HPV infection is the cause of most cervical cancers, not chlamydia.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Risk
The risk of becoming infected may also be increased by Chlamydia infections (as well as other STIs). According to some studies, as many as 15% of HIV-positive men who had sex with a man were infected with chlamydia.
There are two reasons for this:
- Firstly, infection can cause genital inflammation, which can damage the mucosa lining the vagina, cervix, urethra, and rectum. HIV is then able to enter the bloodstream and lymphatic system more directly.
- Secondly, a chlamydia infection can also increase HIV viral activity around the genital area. This can result in a person having an undetectable viral load in blood, but a detectable virus in vaginal or semen secretions.
Lymphogranuloma Venereum
The more common Chlamydia trachomatis subtypes cause infections, but some (L1, L2, and L3) can cause a more severe disease called lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Symptoms such as lymph node swelling and systemic symptoms can sometimes be confused with those caused by other diseases, such as syphilis. Compared to other variations, LGV treatment takes significantly longer.
Trachoma
Trachoma is the primary cause of preventable blindness in the world, and is not an STI; it is an infection transmitted through the eyes or nose. Redness and an inward turning of the eyelashes usually accompany the condition. As a result of this rubbing, the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, becomes abraded – leading to severe eye damage and blindness.
Infected people can spread trachoma through direct contact, shared towels and clothes, and flies that come in contact with their eyes or noses. Chlamydia trachomatis causes trachoma in different ways than genital infections. Developing countries, those in Asia and Africa, are more likely to suffer from this infection.
Reactive arthritis
Sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA) is most commonly caused by chlamydia. It occurs when your urethra (the tube that passes urine out of your body), eyes, or joints become inflamed, usually within the first few weeks after contracting chlamydia. Men are more likely to contract this infection than women with chlamydia.
SARA is currently incurable, but most people recover within a few months. Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and pain killers can reduce the pain and other symptoms in the meantime.
Complications in newborns
The baby can become infected during vaginal birth if the mother has untreated chlamydia. There are two issues that can arise:
Eye infections:
Almost 40% of infants born to untreated chlamydia mothers experience conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum). Infection occurs when a mother’s birth canal is infected with a sexually-transmitted disease. Yellow discharge, red eyes, and swollen eyelids are common symptoms in the first 10 days of life.
Pneumonia:
In infants born to mothers with untreated chlamydia, this is less common, occurring in 3%-16% of cases. In most cases, pneumonia occurs between four and twelve weeks after delivery and is accompanied by coughing and congestion.
When a mother is treated for chlamydia before or during pregnancy, the baby should not be exposed to these infections. During the third trimester, some obstetricians recommend repeat testing for chlamydia in high-risk women.