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Chlamydia infection during and after childbirth can present numerous difficulties, from miscarriage and PID, premature rupture of membranes and preterm labour for mothers, to low birth weight in their newborn babies.
If left untreated, Chlamydia increases the risk of miscarriage, PID, preterm labour for mothers as well as low birth weight in newborn babies.
Chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics. Most of the drugs prescribed to pregnant women during treatment for chlamydia are considered safe.
Chlamydia Treatment For Pregnant Women
Chlamydia, a common bacterial STI, affects males and females. High-risk pregnant women should get tested at prenatal onset and again in the third trimester to prevent issues for mother and neonate.
Upon chlamydia diagnosis, pregnant women receive safe oral antibiotics for immediate treatment. Antibiotics, usually a single dose or 7-day course, are pregnancy-safe. Azithromycin is the recommended choice, proven safe for pregnant women.
After treatment, retesting at 3 weeks and 3 months is advised due to potential recurrence.
Antibiotics
Pregnant women suffering from chlamydia may take antibiotics during gestation to combat their infection, without endangering themselves or their babies. Antibiotics also prevent complications associated with chlamydia such as PID.
One course of antibiotics should usually resolve symptoms; if symptoms reappear it’s important to consult your healthcare provider about receiving another round.
During treatment, it’s vitally important that sexual activity be put off until all your medications have taken effect and any symptoms have subsided. You should also make use of birth control such as condoms with your partner.
WHO and CDC both recommend azithromycin for treating chlamydia in pregnant women, though other antibiotics such as doxycycline and metronidazole may also be used to treat it effectively without interfering with oral contraceptives or the pill; these other antibiotics don’t interfere with contraception plans but are less efficient at combatting chlamydia than azithromycin.
Pregnant women diagnosed with chlamydia should also undergo testing for HIV, gonorrhea and syphilis before receiving HIV PrEP; otherwise HIV PrEP should be given.
Counseling
Most cases of chlamydia can be successfully treated using pregnancy-safe antibiotics. Antibiotics should either be administered in one dose or spread over several doses over several weeks; usually one round of treatment will suffice to clear up an infection completely.
Women who are pregnant should wait until all treatment for chlamydia has ended to ensure the infection has completely resolved itself before engaging in sexual relations again.
If an infection spreads into the fallopian tubes, it can result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is more common with vaginal births than cesarean sections and can create serious issues for both mother and baby.
Screening and treating chlamydia during gestation has been proven to lower adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm rupture of membranes, low birth weight infants and neonatal chlamydial infections.
Interventions like patient counseling, partner notification and directly observed therapy have proven highly successful at improving compliance with antibiotic treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Self-care
Chlamydia can usually be successfully treated with antibiotics, with over 95% of people getting rid of their infection by taking their medicine as prescribed. To maximize effectiveness, avoid having sexual relations until all treatment courses have been completed successfully.
Women exposed to untreated chlamydia during gestation may suffer premature rupture of membranes (premature rupture of membranes), increasing their chances of having low birthweight babies. If left untreated, long-term consequences such as pelvic pain, infected vagina or cervix infections and chronic inflammation of vulva (chlamydia trachomatis) could arise as well.
Universal screening and prompt treatment for chlamydia during gestation has proven highly successful at reducing adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm delivery and low birthweight babies.
Unfortunately, however, some women will develop recurrent chlamydia after azithromycin therapy during pregnancy; younger age groups and those who co-inherit other sexually transmitted infections are particularly prone to this recurrence.
Clinics are helping women contact potential sexual partners that they may have been exposed to chlamydia; some clinics even offering help contact details of possible contacts so they may inform them if this could have happened to their sexual partners that may have been exposed.
Other options
Pregnant women typically undergo chlamydia testing and treatment as part of routine antenatal care. Doctors can collect samples from vagina, cervix, anus or penis to test for infection; additionally they may perform a “first wee of the day” urine screening test as an additional check against infection.
Chlamydia infection can spread into the upper reproductive tract and result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), leading to infertility, ectopic pregnancy and severe vaginal pain or discharge. Left untreated, PID can lead to infertility, miscarriage and severe vaginal discharge or pain.
Studies using retrospective/observational and randomized controlled trial data have demonstrated that screening and treating for Chlamydia in early pregnancy improves pregnancy outcomes by decreasing preterm birth risk, premature rupture of membranes, and low birth weight infants (50-52).
Although methodological limitations limited these studies’ results further. There was some fair to moderate evidence showing how Chlamydia treatment could also decrease risk for GONORRHEA/SYPHILIS infection among mothers as well as congenital Chlamydial infections among newborns (52).
What Are the Risks of Chlamydia During Pregnancy
Chlamydia in pregnancy poses risks to both mother and baby, including:
– Premature labor and birth: Untreated chlamydia raises premature labor risk (before 37 weeks).
– Premature membrane rupture: Infection heightens waters breaking early, leading to premature birth.
– Low birth weight: Untreated chlamydia links to low baby birth weight.
– Newborn eye and lung issues: Untreated infection might transmit to baby, causing eye and lung infections.
– Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Chlamydia can lead to PID, causing fertility problems and pelvic pain.
– Fertility problems: Chlamydia can cause womb and tube infections, leading to future fertility problems.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment prevent these complications. High-risk pregnant women should be screened at prenatal onset and retested in the third trimester. Diagnosed pregnant women receive immediate oral antibiotics.
What Are the Symptoms of Chlamydia in Pregnant Women
Chlamydia symptoms vary. Often none. Some may experience:
- Abnormal vaginal discharge (yellow/green).
- Pelvic/abdominal pain.
- Bleeding between periods/after sex.
- Burning/pain when urinating.
- Pain during sex.
Note, other conditions can cause similar symptoms. Crucial to test for chlamydia if suspected, especially when pregnant. Remember, chlamydia can show no symptoms. Regular screening advised for pregnant women, even without symptoms.
How Is Chlamydia Transmitted From Mother to Baby
Chlamydia can transmit during birth (perinatal transmission). Here’s how it happens:
- Vaginal delivery: If pregnant, untreated chlamydia present, baby can get infected during birth.
Transmission can cause:
- Chlamydial conjunctivitis (18-44% cases): Eye infection with redness, swelling, discharge.
- Chlamydial pneumonia (3-16% cases): Lung infection with coughing, rapid breathing.
Important: Perinatal transmission possible without symptoms. Thus, vital: screen, treat chlamydia during pregnancy to avoid transmission.
Chlamydia during pregnancy? Seek medical care, follow treatment with safe antibiotics to lower baby’s risk.
