Can chlamydia cause infertility? Yes, it can, but far from always. An untreated infection can sometimes lead to inflammation in the abdomen in women that damages the fallopian tubes, and that can affect fertility. Catching it early and treating it lowers that chance considerably.
I want to put this in proportion straight away: most people with chlamydia are left with no lasting effects. The risk is real, but it is not a certainty.
Can chlamydia cause infertility?
Chlamydia can affect fertility, especially in women, if the infection stays untreated for a long time. The bacteria can rise to the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause inflammation there (PID), which can leave scarring. That can lower the chance of getting pregnant or raise the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
An analysis of prospective studies (Price et al., American Journal of Epidemiology, 2013) estimated the risk of PID after a chlamydia infection. A review by Haggerty et al. (Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2010) mapped the possible risks in women. Important: these risks apply to a share of infections, not all.
The table below lists the possible risks by group. It is an overview, not a prediction for your situation.
| Group | Possible risks with untreated infection | How common |
|---|---|---|
| Women | PID, damage to fallopian tubes, reduced fertility, ectopic pregnancy | In a share, higher risk with repeat infections |
| Men | Inflammation of the epididymis, rarely reduced fertility | Less common than in women |
| Pregnant people | Possible transmission to the baby during birth | In a share, reducible with treatment |
RIVM describes that serious risks are more common in women than in men. For complaints and testing by sex, see chlamydia in women.
What are the risks in women?
In women the biggest risk lies in PID: inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. That can cause complaints such as lower-belly pain, fever and pain during sex, but sometimes it also runs quietly. Scarring in the fallopian tubes can later affect fertility.
Repeat infections raise that risk step by step.
That is why early testing after complaints or exposure can be wise. If you are thinking about getting pregnant, also see STIs and trying to conceive.
What are the risks in men?
In men serious damage is less common. The best-known complication is inflammation of the epididymis, which gives pain and swelling of the scrotum. Lasting effects on fertility are rare in men.
That does not mean testing matters less for men. Without complaints you pass the bacteria on easily.
More about complaints and testing in men is in chlamydia in men.
How do you reduce the risk?
The main way to prevent risks is to detect and treat an infection in time. After a proper antibiotic course chlamydia clears in most people, and with that the risk of complications drops sharply. Treating recent partners as well prevents you from getting reinfected.
If you want to get checked, you can do so anonymously with a chlamydia test or a test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas. How treatment goes is in chlamydia treatment with antibiotics.
Frequently asked questions about the risks of chlamydia
Does everyone with chlamydia get complications? No, far from everyone. Most people are left with no lasting effects, especially if the infection is treated in time.
Can chlamydia cause infertility? In a share of women an untreated infection can damage the fallopian tubes and so affect fertility. In men that is rare.
Do repeat infections raise the risk? Yes. Each new infection raises the chance of damage to the fallopian tubes. Preventing reinfection matters for that reason.
Are the risks reversible? The infection itself is well treatable. Scarring that has already formed cannot always be undone, which is what makes early testing so important.
Does chlamydia have risks during pregnancy? The bacteria may be passed on during birth. Treatment lowers that chance. Discuss this with your GP or midwife.
How do I notice if I have complications? Sometimes through lower-belly pain, fever or pain during sex, but it can also run quietly. If in doubt, assessment by a doctor is wise.
Every STI result we provide is assessed by a BIG-registered doctor. If you have symptoms or worry about your fertility, discuss it with your GP; this article is meant as explanation, not as medical advice.
Sources
- RIVM, Chlamydia
- Thuisarts.nl, I may have chlamydia
- Price MJ et al. Risk of pelvic inflammatory disease following Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Am J Epidemiol. 2013 (PMID 23813703).
- Haggerty CL et al. Risk of sequelae after Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in women. J Infect Dis. 2010 (PMID 20470050).
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