Chlamydia infections in women

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Antibodies

Female reproductive anatomy

Uterus

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by parasitic microorganisms. These microorganisms cause a wide range of infections in humans, including infections of the male and female genital tract, eye infections, and pneumonia.

Recent studies have been investigating the potential association between certain types of chlamydia infection and coronary heart disease. The association is still under active debate.

Different strains of chlamydia cause genital, eye, lymph node, and respiratory infections. Chlamydia causes trachoma, which is the most common cause of blindness in the world.

In the developed world, infections due to chlamydia are a common sexually transmitted disease; in the U.S., approximately 50 women per 100,000 are infected annually, with women aged 15-24 at greatest risk. Risk factors include multiple sexual partners. Chlamydia is the most common reportable disease in the United States.

Sexually transmitted chlamydia infections can infect the the urethra, the rectum, and the throat. In women, the infection may lead to inflammation of the cervix. If untreated, infection may spread to the uterus or the fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This can cause infertility and can increase the risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.

Review Date: 06/15/2005
Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.