Can chlamydia or mild PID cause infertility if left untreated?
(Female, 30) A: It is difficult to answer your question with any precision. Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmissible infection (STI), caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. A woman can be infected and yet have no signs or symptoms of infection. Chlamydia can infect the neck of the uterus (cervix) and spread to other parts of the reproductive system. Chlamydia infection may cause decreased fertility when infection moves up into the fallopian tubes. This is known as pelvic inflamatory disease (PID). If untreated, the infection can lead to scarring and blockage in the tubes. Decreased fertility following chlamydia infection is more likely after: • multiple episodes of chlamydia • more severe episodes of PID • a longer period of infection before treatment (this is often many years). Estimates on rates of infertility after chlamydia infection vary widely. This is difficult to estimate with accuracy because most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, many cases are undiagno
