The most common sexually transmitted disease reported in the United States usually has no symptoms. In 2006, there were 1,030,911 chlamydial infections reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC, it is a "silent" disease because 75 percent of infected women have no symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they usually become apparent one to three weeks after exposure.
Why Screening is Important
Most women with chlamydia have no symptoms. Since infection can lead to PID, infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for chlamydial infection for all sexually active non-pregnant young women aged 24 and younger and for older non-pregnant women who are at increased risk.
In pregnancy, chlamydia can lead to premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, neonatal infection and postpartum infection of the uterus. The USPSTF recommends screening for chlamydial infection for all pregnant women aged 24 and younger and for older pregnant women who are at increased risk.
Women are at increased risk if they have had chlamydia in the past, have multiple sex partners, do not always use condoms or exchange sex for money or drugs. Women younger than 24 years old are five times more likely to get chlamydia than women over 30.
Urogenital Symptoms
Chlamydial cervicitis is an infection and inflammation of the cervix. Symptoms may include discharge, pain with intercourse or abnormal bleeding.
The urethra is the tube from the bladder that urine passes through. If it is involved, women may experience burning with urination or frequent urination.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
If the infection spreads from the cervix to the uterus and fallopian tubes, women may run a low grade fever, experience nausea, general fatigue, abdominal pain and low back pain. PID is a more complicated infection and can lead to scarring of the fallopian tubes. This damages them and may lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy.
According to an article published in the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2000 by Josie Tenore, ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester of pregnancies and accounts for 10-15 percent of all maternal deaths.
Oral and Rectal Infection
Oral chlamydia may lead to a sore throat.
Chlamydia infection can spread from the cervix to the rectum or may be transmitted with anal intercourse. Symptoms may include pain, swelling and bleeding from the rectum.
