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Layla Quinones
SCB 101.6712
Prof. Pang
October 27, 2008
Lab Report
Chlamydia in Pregnant Women
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease that is found both in
men and women in the United States. It can also pose serious risks for pregnant mothers
and their unborn children because, of the possibility that it can be passed on to their
offspring during delivery. However, it is extremely hard to detect this disease without
proper testing due to the usually “silent” nature of the symptoms that can occur. Despite
the complications that having Chlamydia might pose for a pregnant woman, it is
manageable if detected and treated and cured with the correct antibiotics.
Chlamydia is caused most commonly by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis that
can only replicate inside cells and must invade other cells in order to create energy to do
so. It can be transmitted from an infected sexual partner to the other through oral, anal or
vaginal intercourse; Chlamydia trachomatis can therefore be found in the rectum, throat,
and cervix and, can spread to the fallopian tubes and urethra. In pregnant women,
Chlamydia can pose detrimental risks for both mother and child. According to the Center
of Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 100,000 pregnant woman contract
Chlamydia each year in the United States (2). In an infected mother, the chances of
having premature labor, premature delivery, low birth weight and still births are greater
than if she was not infected. It is also common in pregnant women who do not treat their
infections early enough, that they develop pelvic inflammatory disease. This can
commonly lead to ectopic pregnancy and ultimately in the death of the unborn child.
However, if an infected pregnant woman carries to term, the child can contract
chlamydial conjunctivitis and chlamydial pneumonia during the delivery.
Approximately 30% of women in the United States report noticeable symptoms of
the Chlamydia infection; therefore, it is commonly difficult to identify weather a person
has Chlamydia without proper testing (1). The symptoms that might occur in women are
abnormal vaginal discharge, burning during urination, painful sexual intercourse and
rectal pain or discharge. However, many of the symptoms that can occur because of
Chlamydia can also be due to various sequelae that can be developed if the initial
infection was not treated early enough. This poses a potential risk for those who
unknowingly have the infection because they can also develop other serious infections. It
is common for those who have developed sequelae to have certain symptoms that alarm
them and afterwards have to be treated for more than one disease. Among the many
diseases that can occur because of Chlamydia, one of the most dangerous is pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID). PID is developed when the Chlamydia trachomatis travels
from the cervix to the reproductive organs and damages them. This can lead to the
forming of scar tissue in the fallopian tubes and therefore cause an ectopic pregnancy. An
ectopic pregnancy is caused by the blockage of the passageway in the fallopian tubes,
interrupting an eggs journey to the uterus. This leads to the development of the embryo
outside of the womb causing miscarriage. PID and ectopic pregnancy both damage the
reproductive organs in woman and can lead to infertility.
Although Chlamydia is initially found in a pregnant woman, her baby can also
contract it during vaginal delivery. Forms of chlamydial infections in newborns are
chlamydial conjunctivitis and chlamydial pneumonia and can be treated with immediate
antibiotics. Chlamydial pneumonia occurs when “nasopharyngeal [Chlamydia
trachomatis]…secretes during delivery”(5). Symptoms include a persistent cough, low
grade fever and, in premature babies, it can be indicated by respiratory distress that may
become worst. This may also lead to the child developing asthma in later years.
Chlamydial conjunctivitis is an infection of Chlamydia trachomatis in the eyes. It
develops about 2 weeks after birth and can initially spread from one eye to the next.
However, chlamydial conjunctivitis is usually mild and can be cured with antibiotics.
Furthermore, there are many preventative measures that pregnant women can take
to minimize their chance of contracting Chlamydia. First and most importantly, condoms
can be used to prevent the spread of any sexually transmitted disease and prevent possible
pregnancy. Also, it is important for women to get at least an annually Pap smear to test
for various sexually transmitted diseases that can be harmful to her and her sexual
partners. Contracting Chlamydia can also be prevented with the proper knowledge of
sexual partners and the diseases they might be carrying. In all, it is critical for pregnant
women to be aware of any diseases they might contract before or during their
pregnancies. If not, it can deem detrimental their health as well as their unborn child’s
health. In most extreme cases, the outcome of contracting Chlamydia and continuing
without treatment can cause miscarriage, still births or infertility.