Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. When left untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious health complications. Here is an overview of what can happen if chlamydia goes untreated for 4 months.
Overview of Chlamydia
Chlamydia is spread through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection. It can affect both men and women and often causes no symptoms, so it can go undetected. Some people may experience abnormal discharge, burning with urination, or pain during sex. Without treatment, chlamydia can linger for months or even years.
Chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotics, usually azithromycin or doxycycline. Treatment stops the infection from spreading and prevents complications. Annual screening is recommended for sexually active women under 25 and others at risk.
What Happens in the First 4 Months of Untreated Chlamydia?
During the first 4 months of having untreated chlamydia, several things may happen:
- The infection can spread from the cervix to the uterus and fallopian tubes.
- Inflammation can cause permanent damage to the reproductive system.
- The bacteria can continue spreading to sexual partners.
- Pregnancy complications may occur if a pregnant person contracts chlamydia.
- In rare cases, the infection may spread to other parts of the body.
- Symptoms may come and go but increase over time as damage worsens.
Let’s look at these potential effects in more detail:
Spread to Reproductive Organs
When left untreated, chlamydia bacteria initially infect the cervix (opening of the uterus) in women and the urethra (urine canal) in both women and men. The infection then commonly spreads upward to the uterus and fallopian tubes.
In men, the bacteria may spread to the epididymis, a coiled tube located behind each testicle where sperm matures and is stored.
Inflammation and Scarring
Chlamydia causes inflammation, especially in the reproductive system. This can damage cells and tissue over time. Persistent inflammation creates scar tissue, which can lead to long-term complications.
In women, scarring may block the fallopian tubes. This is known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Blocked tubes raise the risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Men may develop epididymitis, an inflammation of the epididymis causing pain and swelling. This can potentially lead to reduced fertility.
Spreading the Infection
Since chlamydia often causes no symptoms at first, many people don’t know they have the infection. They may unknowingly pass it on to partners through unprotected sex.
Without treatment, each infected person can spread chlamydia to multiple new partners. After 4 months, an untreated individual may have given the infection to several people without realizing it.
Pregnancy Complications
Untreated chlamydia in pregnant women can spread to the baby during childbirth. This can cause infections in the baby’s eyes and lungs.
Chlamydia increases the risk of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) during pregnancy. PROM is when the amniotic sac breaks before labor starts, which may cause premature birth.
Spread to Other Body Parts
While rare, it’s possible for chlamydia to spread (disseminate) beyond the reproductive system if left untreated. It may infect the rectum, eyes, joints, or throat.
Disseminated chlamydia can cause painful inflammation in the affected areas. Eye infections may lead to blindness if not treated quickly.
Worsening Symptoms
As damage from inflammation worsens over 4 months, untreated chlamydia can cause worsening symptoms. People may experience:
- Increasing vaginal discharge or bleeding between periods in women
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Pain during sex
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Nausea
However, it’s still possible to have no symptoms or only mild ones at this stage. This makes regular screenings critical for early treatment.
Long-Term Outcomes of Untreated Chlamydia
Without treatment, chlamydia can lead to serious reproductive health consequences. This is especially true for women. Potential long-term outcomes include:
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Up to 40% of women with untreated chlamydia will develop PID. This happens when the infection spreads from the cervix to the uterus and fallopian tubes.
PID causes inflammation and scarring. It often requires hospitalization and IV antibiotics to treat. Even with treatment, damage may be irreversible.
Infertility
Between 10-15% of women with chlamydia-caused PID become infertile. Scar tissue can block or damage the fallopian tubes, preventing pregnancy.
In men, infertility may occur if epididymitis causes damage to sperm.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Women with tubal scarring from PID have a 5-7 times higher risk of ectopic pregnancy. This is when a fertilized egg gets stuck and implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.
Ectopic pregnancies are life-threatening emergencies requiring immediate surgery. They often result in loss of fertility.
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Inflammation from untreated chlamydia can cause chronic pelvic pain in some women. This may happen from prolonged PID or scar tissue sticking to nerves.
Repeated Chlamydia Infections
Having chlamydia once makes you more likely to get it again. Without proper screening and treatment, some people get re-infected repeatedly by untreated partners.
This raises the risk of fertility problems. Each repeat infection causes further inflammation and scarring.
Treatment for Chlamydia
The good news is chlamydia is curable and complications are preventable with prompt antibiotic treatment. The CDC recommends:
- Azithromycin – Taken as 1 dose (either as 2 pills or 4 pills all at once)
- Doxycycline – Taken 2 times a day for 7 days
All sex partners from the past 2 months should also be informed, tested, and treated.
It’s important to abstain from sex for 7 days after taking antibiotics or until any sex partners are treated. Test of cure is recommended 3 months after finishing treatment.
With early treatment, the long-term outlook for chlamydia is excellent. Fertility and future pregnancy outcomes are typically normal after appropriate antibiotics.
Prevention of Chlamydia
Preventing chlamydia starts with safer sexual practices. These include:
- Using condoms correctly every time you have sex
- Limiting your number of sexual partners
- Asking partners to get screened before sex
- Getting screened annually if sexually active and under 25
Getting regularly tested lowers your risk by catching chlamydia early before complications develop. Annual exams also offer a chance to discuss prevention with your healthcare provider.
The Importance of Chlamydia Screening
Since chlamydia is so prevalent and sneaky, screening is essential to stop the spread and prevent consequences like infertility. The USPSTF recommends the following groups get screened annually or more often:
- Sexually active women under 25
- Older women with risk factors like new partners
- All pregnant women
- Men who have sex with men
At least 2.86 million chlamydia infections occur in America each year. Regular screening, especially among young women, is vital for public health.
Testing is quick, inexpensive, and usually just involves a urine sample or vaginal swab. Many labs can do rapid results in a day or two.
Summary
When left untreated, chlamydia can spread through the reproductive system and progressively cause lasting damage over 4 months. This may result in pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, chronic pain, and pregnancy complications for women.
Thankfully, chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics if caught early. All sexually active young women should get screened yearly to protect fertility and prevent spread to partners.
While timeliness is important, the long-term outlook for chlamydia is positive in nearly all cases with proper treatment. Preventing re-infection through screening and safer sex practices is key.