Chlamydia and Infertility - Discussing the Connection

Are you wondering about the Chlamydia and infertility connection?

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the US and is caused by a group of bacteria known as Chlamydia trachomatis. It is estimated that nearly 3 million (both men and women) Americans are infected each year.

While 75% of all women and 50% of all men infected with Chlamydia have no symptoms of the ailment, when they do present signs, it is generally within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.

Women experiencing symptoms might have a vaginal discharge that is not normal or burning while urinating. Even spreading from the cervix to the fallopian tubes, most women exhibit no signs of the infection, while others have both lower abdominal or lower back pain, nausea and / or fever, experience painful intercourse, or have between menstrual bleeding.

So how does the Chlamydia and infertility link come in?

In women, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the most serious consequences of the Chlamydia infection. This takes place when the bacterial infection moves into the upper reproductive tract. The surrounding areas of the uterus and fallopian tubes can become swollen, filled with pus, or even scarred. PID can generally be treated with antibiotics and / or an anti-inflammatory medication, although surgery is sometimes required.

And the Chlamydia and infertility connection occurs here because PID is the number one cause of preventable infertility in the US, and while an episode of the infection is cleared up relatively easily, each episode a woman subsequently experiences increases the risk of her becoming infertile. PID is also associated with ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy occurring in fallopian tubes rather than the uterus) or chronic pelvic pain. Though rare, even death can occur.

There's more to the Chlamydia and infertility connection.

An untreated infection spreading into the fallopian tubes can result in the tubes becoming blocked at the ends. The developing scar tissue around the tubes of this condition, known as hydrosalpinx, makes it difficult for the egg to enter the tube at the time of ovulation, again resulting in the inability to conceive.

Chlamydia can be detected by first taking a swab of the cervix, then testing it for the infection's DNA. Just because there are elevated levels of the bacteria in the cervix does not necessarily mean an active case of Chlamydia is in progress, but it does mean that there was exposure, and with exposure comes possibility. In many cases (about 45% of the time), the infection can be cleared up with a diet and lifestyle change to boost the immune system's optimal function, and in these cases, there is less risk of tubal damage.

In addition, there is a Chlamydia and infertility link in men, too.

Untreated Chlamydia infections in men can also be problematic, leading to a condition called epididymitis. This is an infection of the tubes in the testicles, where the sperm is stored to mature. With this condition, men can experience definite symptoms such as atrophy (wasting away) or the shrinking of the infected testicle. It can also lead to abscesses (pus-filled lesions) in the scrotum which will, if left untreated, lead to infertility.

Chlamydia in both sexes can be easily treated with antibiotics; and in the case of a couple, both parties should be tested as well as treated. They should abstain from sexual intercourse until treatment has been completed.

In short, to prevent the Chlamydia and infertility connection from taking root, it is a good idea to ensure that the former is properly treated.

Having read about Chlamydia and infertility, you learn more about these conditions by reading the related articles and pages on the rest of this website.

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