Chlamydia, Infertility and Pregnancy: Long-Term Effects
Quick answer
Untreated chlamydia can cause infertility. In people with a uterus, it can spread and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can scar the fallopian tubes and lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy and long-term pelvic pain. The WHO says chlamydia is unlikely to lead to long-term problems if treated early. In pregnancy, chlamydia can pass to the baby, so testing and treatment matter.
Finding out you have chlamydia can bring up fears about having children later. The reassuring part is that the serious problems come mainly from infections that go untreated for a long time, and chlamydia is curable. This page explains what the risks are, and what testing and treatment can do about them.
Does chlamydia cause infertility?
It can. The CDC says chlamydia can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, which can make it difficult or impossible to get pregnant later. The WHO also says untreated chlamydia can increase the risk of infertility.
The WHO adds an important point: chlamydia is unlikely to lead to long-term problems if it is treated early. The risk comes from infections that are missed or left alone, which is easy to do because chlamydia often has no symptoms.
How does chlamydia lead to PID?
In people with a uterus, untreated chlamydia can spread to the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. This is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The CDC lists these possible complications of PID:
- Scar tissue that blocks the fallopian tubes
- Ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb)
- Infertility
- Long-term pelvic or abdominal pain
The CDC says the initial damage often goes unnoticed. Its clinical guidance notes that even women with mild or no-symptom PID might be at risk for infertility, and that some women with an apparently simple cervical infection already have infection higher up.
MedlinePlus says women who have had chlamydia more than once are at higher risk of serious reproductive complications. This is one reason retesting matters.
Can chlamydia cause an ectopic pregnancy?
Yes. The CDC lists ectopic pregnancy as a complication of chlamydia and PID, and calls it potentially fatal. This is why sudden pelvic pain in someone who might be pregnant needs urgent care.
Can I still get pregnant after chlamydia?
Antibiotics cure the infection and, the CDC says, could decrease your chance of later problems, though they can’t undo damage that has already happened. Treating promptly matters: the CDC says treatment delays have been linked to complications such as PID in a small proportion of women.
If you’ve been trying to conceive for a while, or had chlamydia or PID in the past, a clinician can talk through your options.
The NHS adds that the sooner you get treatment, the easier complications of untreated chlamydia are to treat. If you think you may have had chlamydia in the past without ever being tested, it is reasonable to order a test now.
Should I be tested in pregnancy?
Yes, in many cases. MedlinePlus says to get tested at your first prenatal visit. The CDC recommends screening at the first prenatal visit for women under 25, and for older women with a new partner, more than one partner, or a partner who has an STI. It also recommends rescreening in the third trimester for those women.
If you test positive, the CDC advises treatment during pregnancy, a repeat test about 4 weeks later, and another about 3 months after treatment. Your partner should be tested and treated too. Some antibiotics aren’t suitable in pregnancy, so your clinician will choose one that is.
What can chlamydia do to a baby?
The CDC says a pregnant woman with chlamydia can pass it to her baby during delivery. Newborns can develop eye infections (conjunctivitis) and pneumonia, which are treatable with antibiotics, says the NHS. MedlinePlus says untreated infection may also make a premature birth more likely, and the WHO mentions low birth weight.
The CDC says treating pregnant women usually prevents the infection passing to the newborn.
What about long-term effects in men?
Men rarely have health problems from chlamydia, says the CDC. The infection can reach the tubes attached to the testicles, causing pain and fever, and in rare cases this may cause infertility. Both men and women can also develop reactive arthritis, according to MedlinePlus. Our page on chlamydia symptoms in men has details.
What should I do next?
Order a test online if you might have been exposed, finish all treatment, make sure partners are treated, and retest about 3 months later. See chlamydia treatment and retesting for how that works.
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Get care today if
- Pelvic or lower belly pain together with a fever, shivering or feeling very unwell
- Sudden, sharp or severe pelvic pain, or pain on one side of your lower belly, especially if you might be pregnant
- Pelvic pain with heavy vaginal bleeding, dizziness or fainting
- Pregnancy symptoms, such as a missed period or a positive test, together with pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding
- You are pregnant and think you might have chlamydia or PID
Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, urgent care or your doctor can see you today.
When to test
- If you are trying to conceive and think you may have been exposedOrder an online STD test and tell your doctor or midwife. The NHS advises getting checked if you are planning a pregnancy and think you might have chlamydia.
- At your first prenatal visitMedlinePlus says to get tested at your first prenatal visit. The CDC says women under 25, and older women at higher risk, should be screened then and again in the third trimester.
- About 4 weeks after treatment in pregnancyThe CDC advises a repeat test about 4 weeks after finishing treatment during pregnancy, because the infection can seriously affect mothers and newborns if it persists.
- About 3 months after treatmentEveryone treated for chlamydia, including pregnant women, should be retested about three months later, according to the CDC.
Common questions
Does chlamydia cause infertility?
It can, mainly in people with a uterus and fallopian tubes. The CDC says untreated chlamydia can cause PID, which can scar and block the tubes and lead to infertility. Early treatment lowers the chance of problems, but the CDC says antibiotics cannot repair damage already done.
Can I get pregnant after having chlamydia?
Treating early gives the best chance of avoiding problems. The WHO says chlamydia is unlikely to cause long-term problems if treated early. If you are worried, or have been trying without success, ask a clinician about your fertility.
Is chlamydia dangerous during pregnancy?
It can be. The CDC says a pregnant woman with chlamydia can pass it to her baby during delivery, causing serious health problems. MedlinePlus says it may also make a premature birth more likely. Testing and treatment during pregnancy lower these risks.
Can men become infertile from chlamydia?
Rarely. The CDC says men rarely have health problems from chlamydia. It can infect the tubes attached to the testicles, causing pain and fever, and in rare cases this can lead to infertility.
Sources
This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician who examines you, or a lab test, can tell you what you have. Read how we write and check our guides.