Why is chlamydia such an unpleasant sexually transmitted disease?

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STDs) and is often considered particularly nasty for a variety of reasons.

Many people infected with chlamydia have no symptoms. About 70% of women and 50% of men show no signs of the infection. This makes it difficult to detect and treat the infection in a timely manner, increasing the risk of spread.

If left untreated, chlamydia can cause serious complications, especially in women. It can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause damage to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and surrounding tissues. This can lead to chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

Although less common, men can also experience serious complications such as epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis), which can cause pain and swelling and, in rare cases, infertility.

A chlamydia infection can increase the risk of contracting other STDs, such as HIV. Inflammation caused by chlamydia can make it easier for the HIV virus to enter the body. Pregnant women with chlamydia can transmit the infection to their babies during delivery, which can lead to neonatal conjunctivitis (eye infection) or pneumonia in newborns.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/chlamydia/about/

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-02-02 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025