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Female reproductive anatomy
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Antibodies

Chlamydia infections in women
Definition:
A sexually transmitted disease caused by parasitic microorganisms. These microorganisms cause a wide range of infections in humans, including infections of the male and female genital tracts, eye infections, and pneumonia. Recently, infections with certain types of chlamydia have been associated with coronary heart disease.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Different strains of chlamydia cause genital, eye, lymph node, and respiratory infections. Chlamydia causes trachoma, which is the most common cause of blindness in the world.

In the developed world, infections due to chlamydia are a common sexually transmitted disease; in the U.S., approximately 50 women per 100,000 are infected annually, with women aged 15-24 at greatest risk. Risk factors include multiple sexual partners. Chlamydia is the most common reportable disease in the United States.

Sexually transmitted chlamydia infections can infect the the urethra "urethritis", the rectum, and the throat. In women, the infection may lead to inflammation of the cervix. If untreated, infection may spread to the uterus or the fallopian tubes "salpingitis" and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This can cause infertility and can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Symptoms:
Note: Many chlamydia infections have no symptoms (asymptomatic).
Signs and tests:
  • culture from cervix in women
  • non-culture tests including:
    • DNA probes
    • immunofluorescence assays
    • enzyme immunoassays
    • nucleic acid amplification tests
Treatment:
Chlamydia can be treated with a variety of antibiotics, including azithromycin, erythromycin, tetracyclines, ofloxacin, and amoxicillin. Erythromycin and amoxicillin are safe in pregnant women. Both sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth between them, even though both may not have symptoms.
Expectations (prognosis):
Antibiotic treatment is usually successful. Reinfection may occur if compliance with therapy is not good, or if both sexual partners are not treated.
Complications:
Calling your health care provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of chlamydia occur.
Prevention:
A monogamous sexual relationship with an uninfected partner is the best way to avoid this infection. The proper use of condoms during intercourse decreases the risk of infection.
Review Date: 8/20/2001
Reviewed By: David N. Fisman, M.D., M.P.H., FRCP(C). Hamilton Department of Social and Public Health Services, and McMaster University Division of Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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