Universal chlamydia screening is a key step in preventing adverse birth outcomes. According to a recent meta-analysis, an untreated chlamydia infection during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of preterm delivery. This finding was consistent with previous studies. This condition should be screened for and treated before pregnancy to prevent the development of adverse outcomes. Symptoms, screening, and treatment are discussed in this article.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ChlamydiA infection during pregnancy can be devastating for the unborn child. Untreated, chlamydia can lead to miscarriage or premature delivery. It is possible to pass the infection to the baby during delivery. Symptoms of chlamydia during pregnancy can include conjunctivitis, which can damage a baby’s vision in the future. Some cases of chlamydia may also be serious enough to result in pneumonia or conjunctivitis in the newborn.
The CDC recommends screening all pregnant women for chlamydia. If you do have the infection, it may clear up before you give birth, but treatment is important to reduce the chance of transmission to your unborn child. Follow-up screenings are essential for preventing chlamydia infections in pregnancy. Chlamydia treatment during pregnancy is important for both mother and fetus.
Treatment
Chlamydia in pregnancy is a common bacterial infection transmitted during sex. It is spread through genital sex, oral sex, and anal sex, but can also be transferred from mother to child during delivery. It affects approximately 1.8 million people in the U.S. each year, and has increased by 3 percent between 2017 and 2018. In addition, chlamydia infection is more common in sexually active women than among those who are not. Fortunately, there is treatment for chlamydia during pregnancy.
Chlamydia in pregnancy treatment involves prescribing antibiotics to cure infection and prevent reinfection. These drugs can be given in a single dose or repeated every few weeks. One round of treatment is enough to cure a woman of chlamydia. It is best to get treatment for the infection as early as possible, and both partners should avoid having sexual intercourse until one week has passed since the last dose. The best preventive measures for chlamydia in pregnancy are to practice safe sex and to engage in a long-term monogamous relationship with a partner who is STI-free.
Gestational age
In the current study, we looked at the association between chlamydia infection in pregnancy and gestational age. Women who had an infection were found to have a lower SDS at birth and were more likely to be premature. Interestingly, this difference disappeared after adjusting for maternal characteristics, such as education, gravidity, smoking, and ethnicity. Even after stratification by gestational age, the association between chlamydia infection and birthweight was not significant.
In the population-based cohort study, we also looked at the association between chlamydia and preterm birth. The study population included all singleton live births and those who had chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis infection before or during pregnancy. We also looked at the gestational age of the mother and baby at birth. Preterm birth is defined as less than 37 weeks gestation.
Screening for chlamydia
In the past 5 years, nearly one in four pregnant women has been tested for chlamydia at an academic center. The number of pregnant women with positive test results likely underestimates the actual rate of infection during pregnancy. Nevertheless, these findings support the current ACOG guidelines for universal chlamydia screening. It is important to note that the current CDC recommendations are based on prevalence and cost-effectiveness analyses.
The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis is relatively high, causing an annual burden of almost 130 million cases in developed countries. The disease is perpetually neglected in low and middle-income countries, but it is especially harmful to pregnant women. Pregnancy is the most vulnerable time to contract this infection, causing severe health problems for both mother and child. Therefore, screening for chlamydia in pregnancy is essential to prevent the development of harmful effects.
Treatment complications
Chlamydia infection can cause many problems in pregnancy, from pelvic pain to scarring in the fallopian tubes. Pelvic inflammatory disease can also cause problems with fertility, leading to infertility. If left untreated, chlamydia infection can even spread to the womb. If this happens, the affected woman may have a premature delivery or ectopic pregnancy. Another complication is HIV infection, which is three to five times higher than in uninfected women.
The symptoms of chlamydia in pregnancy depend on the type of infection you have. While many women don’t show symptoms of the infection, a few have experienced it during or after pregnancy. Some women have reported itching and burning during urination. Women who are pregnant may also experience premature labor, low birth weight, and low blood count. Newborns can also contract the infection, resulting in ectopic pregnancy.
