Chlamydia infection natural history, complications and prognosis

If left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women and epididymitis and orchitis in males.^[1][2] Common complications of chlamydia among women include cervicitis, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. Complications of chlamydia in men include proctitis, epididymitis, and sterility. Other complications of chlamydia include an increased risk of acquiring HIV and reactive arthritis.^[3] The prognosis of chlamydia is generally good with adequate treatment.

If left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in women and epididymitis and orchitis in males, which may, in rare cases, lead to sterility.^[1][2]

The complications of chlamydia infection may be divided into genitourinary infections, pulmonary infections, ocular infections, and complications associated with pregnancy.^[2]

Complications of chlamydia infection in women include:^[1][3][4]

• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Infertility
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Reactive arthritis
• Increased risk for acquiring HIV

Complications of chlamydia in pregnant patients include:^[2][5]

• Pre-term labor
• Premature rupture of membranes
• Intrauterine growth retardation
• Transmission of infection to newborn, neonatal conjunctivitis, and pneumonia in the newborn
• Postpartum endometritis

Complications of chlamydia infection in men may include:^[2][3]

• Epididymitis
• Orchitis
• Sterility
• Proctitis
• Reactive arthritis
• Increased risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV

The prognosis of chlamydia is generally good with adequate treatment.

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