Can Chlamydia Cause Infertility? What Every Woman Needs to Know

Chlamydia Poses a Hidden Threat

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. The CDC estimates that more than 2.4 million people are infected each year, according to the latest data from 2023. What makes this sexually transmitted infection particularly dangerous is that up to 95% of women and 90% of men with chlamydia experience no symptoms at all.

This means you could have a chlamydia infection and not know it, allowing the bacteria to quietly damage your reproductive organs over time. The longer untreated chlamydia remains in your system, the more severe the complications can become.

How Chlamydia Affects Your Fertility

Yes, chlamydia can cause infertility—but only if it goes untreated.

Here’s how this sexually transmitted infection can impact your reproductive health:

When chlamydia bacteria enter your reproductive system, they can travel from the cervix upward to infect the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This ascending infection can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious condition that affects your fertility in several ways.

Fallopian Tube Damage

Your fallopian tubes play a crucial role in fertility—they’re where the fertilized egg travels from your ovaries to your uterus. When chlamydia causes inflammation in these delicate tubes, it can result in scarring and blockages. This scarring can prevent the fertilized egg from moving through the tubes properly, leading to:

• Complete blockage, preventing fertilization entirely
• Partial blockage, increasing the risk that a fertilized egg implants in the tube instead of the uterus
• Damage to the tiny hairs (cilia) that help move the fertilized egg along

Ectopic Pregnancy Risk

One of the most serious complications of untreated chlamydia is an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. When scarring from a chlamydia infection partially blocks the fallopian tubes, a fertilized egg may become stuck and begin to develop in the tube rather than continuing to the uterus where it belongs.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube. This is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention and can result in the loss of the affected fallopian tube.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease is perhaps the most serious complication of untreated chlamydia. PID occurs when the infection spreads beyond the cervix to affect the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This condition can cause:

• Permanent damage to reproductive organs
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Increased risk of infertility
• Higher likelihood of ectopic pregnancy

The CDC reports that even one episode of PID can reduce fertility, and repeated episodes significantly increase the risk of permanent damage.

Recognizing the Signs

While chlamydia often produces no symptoms, some women may experience:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Painful urination
• Bleeding between periods
• Pelvic pain during intercourse
• Lower abdominal pain

These symptoms usually appear within one to three weeks after infection but may be very mild or mistaken for other conditions.

Related Article: Can Birth Control Cause Infertility?

The Connection to Other STIs

Having chlamydia also increases your risk of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea and HIV. Gonorrhea can cause similar fertility complications, and having multiple STIs can compound the damage to your reproductive organs.

Related Article: What Causes Infertility in Women?

Treatment and Prevention

The good news is that chlamydia is completely curable with antibiotics when caught early. Simple antibiotic treatment can eliminate the infection before it causes permanent damage to your fertility. Common antibiotics used include azithromycin or doxycycline.

However, it’s crucial to understand that while antibiotics can cure the infection, they cannot reverse any scarring or damage that has already occurred to your reproductive organs. This is why early detection and treatment are so important.

Protecting Your Fertility

To protect your fertility from chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections:

1. Get regular STI testing – The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under 25 and older women with risk factors
2. Practice safer sex – Use barrier methods like condoms consistently
3. Limit sexual partners – Having multiple partners increases your risk
4. Communicate with partners – Ensure partners are also tested and treated if necessary

When to See Your Doctor

If you’re sexually active, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Regular screening is the best way to catch chlamydia before it can cause complications. Contact your healthcare provider or OB/GYN immediately if you experience pelvic pain, unusual discharge, or other concerning symptoms.

Remember, untreated chlamydia can cause permanent damage to your reproductive system, but when caught early, it’s completely treatable. Don’t let this preventable cause of infertility affect your future family planning—talk to your doctor about regular STI screening today.