What Are the Dangers of Untreated Chlamydia?

Untreated chlamydia can lead to both short- and long-term health consequences. Women might develop diseases of the reproductive organs and pregnancy complications, which can cause infertility and even death, respectively. Men are less likely to suffer serious complications, but some develop infections in their reproductive organs and a few become sterile.

Chlamydia is a common sexually-transmitted disease (STD). It can occur in any demographic group, but is most prevalent in young women. Individuals with chlamydia might experience symptoms within the first couple weeks, such as pain during urination and sex, itching and pain in the genitals, or unusual discharge. Most of the time, however, the disease presents no symptoms, making it easier it to go undetected and untreated.

Although chlamydia can be cured with little difficulty using antibiotics, untreated chlamydia can lead to dire health consequences, especially for women. Women might develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), a painful infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes. PID can damage reproductive organs to the extent that women become infertile. For those women with untreated chlamydia who do conceive, they are more likely to have ectopic pregnancies, give birth prematurely, or pass the disease on to their newborns. Babies born with chlamydia might suffer from pneumonia, blindness, and other health issues.

Men with untreated chlamydia might develop infections in the epididymis, which is located next to each testicle. They are also more prone to prostatitis, an infection of the prostate gland. These infections are typically painful and cause other symptoms like fever. In rare cases, infection in the epididymis can lead to sterility.

An uncommon condition that might develop in people with untreated chlamydia is Reiter's syndrome. This is a form of arthritis that not only affects the joints, but can also cause skin lesions and damage the eyes and urethra, the tube through which urine and semen are discharged. Failing to treat chlamydia also makes individuals more prone to other STDs, including the HIV virus, which causes AIDS.

To diagnose this "silent" disease and prevent the consequences of untreated chlamydia, doctors recommend that sexually active individuals get regular STD screenings. Re-infection can occur if all sexual partners are not treated, so being proactive and thorough about sexual health is crucial. Using condoms and limiting sexual partners decreases the likelihood of contracting or spreading chlamydia, while abstaining from sex altogether is the most effective prevention method.