Keep Chlamydia from Harming Your Baby

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s the most commonly reported bacterial STI in the United States. 

Most people who get infected with this STI don’t have symptoms.  As a result, they don’t get tested. 

This is why getting tested for chlamydia is important. It’s extra crucial for pregnant women. The infection can cause preterm birth. It can also cause a tubal pregnancy. This is a life-threatening issue in which a fertilized egg grows outside of your uterus. A woman with this STI can also pass it to her baby during birth. This can lead to an eye infection or pneumonia in the baby. Most women are tested for chlamydia during their first prenatal checkup.

If you have symptoms, it may take weeks for them to show up after you have sex with an infected partner.  Symptoms in women may include discharge from the vagina, vaginal spotting, painful sex, or burning while urinating. Symptoms in men include discharge from the penis, burning when urinating, and pain and swelling in the testicles. 

Keep in mind that testing and treatment are simple. The infection is very curable.