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Chlamydia in pregnant women causes symptoms. Chlamydia can be treated in a variety of ways. What is the danger of chlamydia in a pregnant woman

Pregnant women feel great joy when they find out about their pregnancy. But, along with this, she begins to overwhelm with experiences. Everyone is afraid of health problems. After all, the mother's immunity must be passed on to the child. Undergoing some of the examinations required during pregnancy, a woman may develop diseases that she did not even know about before. Chlamydia is one such problem.

Chlamydia during pregnancy is dangerous, first of all, because it threatens the child. The likelihood of infection in the womb or during birth is very high

Chlamydia is one of the most common diseases of the genitourinary system. The disease received this name due to the fact that the causative agent is specific microorganisms - chlamydia. These are intracellular microorganisms. They are motionless. But they are capable of affecting the respiratory tract, heart, organs of hearing and vision. When chlamydia enters the body, first of all, the mucous membranes of the target organs are damaged. Further, they enter the epithelium, which contributes to the rapid defeat of immune cells.

The difficulty in determining chlamydia is that under unfavorable conditions it does not manifest itself in any way. But it is precisely such a problem that can cause spontaneous miscarriage and contribute to the formation of large scars in the fallopian tubes.

The main routes of infection

Chlamydia is primarily sexually transmitted. The disease is more common in women. Therefore, in order to diagnose it on time, you need to visit a gynecologist once a year and take all the necessary tests.

Chlamydiae most often enter a woman's body through direct sexual contact with an already infected partner. When the body begins to recognize pathogenic microorganisms, some inflammatory reactions develop. Sometimes they are so insignificant that they are simply ignored. Therefore, many people mistakenly believe that the disease goes away without any obvious symptoms. But this is not the case. Chlamydia can be sluggish, then the inflammatory process can last even for several years.

In some cases, normal household contact can cause chlamydia infection. People who often visit saunas and baths are especially susceptible to such infection. Although it has been proven that microorganisms cannot exist outside the human body, they can remain on household items for some time.

Chlamydia symptoms

It is easy enough to recognize if a pregnant woman is infected with chlamydia. Especially if the disease is acute. A woman's body temperature rises, severe pains in the lower abdomen appear, and sudden bleeding is possible. The nature of vaginal discharge also changes. They become cloudy and have an unpleasant odor. Even a yellowish vaginal discharge should be a concern. Pain when urinating is another sign of illness. Itching often occurs in the perineal region. However, some other infectious diseases may also have such symptoms, therefore, in this case, one cannot self-medicate.

The diagnosis of the disease is complicated if it is asymptomatic. To detect chlamydia, in this case, a mandatory PCR analysis is performed.

Why chlamydia can appear during pregnancy

It is very bad that this malignant venereal disease may not manifest itself for a long time. Chlamydia can be noticed only in the acute phase, when an inflammatory process develops in the body. Pregnant women are much more susceptible to all kinds of infections than others. This is because their immune defenses are greatly weakened. A pregnant woman who finds out about such an unexpected diagnosis may immediately suspect her sexual partner. But the man is not always to blame. It should be remembered that the infection could have settled in the body for a long time, and manifested itself only under favorable conditions.

What is the threat of chlamydia during pregnancy

A sluggish form of the disease can quickly turn into an acute stage. This sometimes takes several weeks. Since microorganisms settle in cells, then, multiplying in a woman's body, they can strongly damage target cells, and sometimes even destroy them completely. That is why pathogenic bacteria can become so active during pregnancy that they often cause miscarriages. In some cases, chlamydia enters the amniotic fluid, infecting the baby. In this case, the baby is born with chlamydia.

Treatment of this disease during pregnancy should in no case be postponed. You can save your health and give birth to a healthy baby only with timely diagnosis of the disease. If chlamydia of a pregnant woman has been confirmed, then treatment should be started immediately.

What are the consequences of a severe form of chlamydia

The acute course of the disease can cause such complications:

  • pulpitis;
  • endometritis;
  • salpingitis;
  • vulvovaginitis;
  • thrush.

Severe inflammation can lead to the formation of adhesions in the fallopian tubes or deformation of the tubes themselves. All this leads to ectopic pregnancies and even infertility.

What can be the risks for a child

If there is an infection in the mother's body, the fetus does not receive enough nutrients. This often leads to vitamin deficiency, a lack of iron in the child's body. The newborn has a low weight. Very often, infected women give birth prematurely. Therefore, if a woman knows that she is sick with chlamydia, she must cure it before pregnancy. Only then will it be possible to carry a healthy baby without any problems.

A baby can catch an infection later in pregnancy. It is then that chlamydia is able to penetrate the cells of some internal organs of the fetus and strongly affect them. In this case, the woman will definitely be admitted to a hospital to maintain pregnancy, since the life of the unborn child may be in great danger.

Infection can also occur when the baby passes through the birth canal. Most often the nasopharynx, eyes and genitals of the baby are affected. This is because the child's mucous membranes are in direct contact with the mother's mucous membranes. Therefore, a woman should know that her baby can be born with multiple pathologies of internal organs.

Methods for diagnosing the disease

If the gynecologist suspects the presence of chlamydia in the body of a pregnant woman, then he will have to send her for some examinations:

  1. Immunoassay blood test. It helps to detect the presence of specific antibodies in the body. The identified immunoglobulins A and M may indicate the development of an inflammatory process.
  2. Smear from the urethra and cervix. It is stained with special dyes. Stained chlamydia is clearly visible under a microscope.
  3. It is imperative to undergo a PCR analysis. It helps to identify the DNA of chlamydia. It is according to the results of this study that the main treatment is prescribed.
  4. Isolation of the pathogen directly from target cells. But this method is practically not used due to its complexity and high cost.
  5. It is possible to identify the potential danger of infection to the fetus by collecting amniotic fluid.

You need to carry out all diagnostic methods, and not just one. Because different methods can give different results. There can be several reasons for distorting the results. The most common of them is the untimely study of the material taken in the laboratory. Dead microorganisms are also capable of staining during the reaction. Therefore, it is impractical to take tests immediately after the treatment.

Principles of treatment for chlamydia during pregnancy

Treatment of the disease during pregnancy should be comprehensive. The sexual partner should also be treated with the expectant mother so that the infection does not go around in circles. Until complete recovery, it is better to avoid sexual intercourse or use condoms. If these rules are not followed, the disease can become chronic.

In no case should you postpone the treatment of chlamydia during pregnancy. As with the treatment of any bacterial infection, antibacterial drugs are used that penetrate the cells

Doctors set themselves the ultimate goal. They must cure a woman from an illness. In this case, you need to ensure that the prescribed drugs do not affect the health of the baby. There are a number of medications that will not do much harm to the body of the unborn child.

But still, the bad effect of medications on the child's body cannot be ruled out. Therefore, the courses of therapy should be short.

Self-medication of chlamydia, especially during pregnancy, is strictly prohibited. Treatment should be performed by a doctor. Usually, pregnant women are prescribed: Amoxicillin. Erythromycin and Viferon suppositories.

Is this treatment effective?

With strict adherence to all the doctor's recommendations, you can get rid of the disease. But it is always necessary to check whether the prescribed therapy worked in each specific case. After all, not all chlamydia can be destroyed. A partner who has not completed the mandatory course of treatment may re-infect a woman. Then the treatment will need to be started again, and the consequences can be dire.

Preventive measures

The most susceptible to the course of the disease in an acute form are those women who have previously had problems of a gynecological nature. Anyone can become infected with chlamydia. But a healthy body activates its immune defenses, which contributes to the rapid destruction of pathogenic microorganisms.

Chlamydia is an infection that is easier to avoid than to get rid of. The main rules for the prevention of chlamydia, like other genital infections, is the presence of a permanent sexual partner

Preventive measures usually include:

  • compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
  • maintaining a correct lifestyle;
  • sexual intercourse should be regularized, with one partner.
  • The main rule is to take good care of your health. Visit a gynecologist once a year and take all the necessary tests to help determine the presence of sexually transmitted infections.

Pregnancy after previous chlamydia

If the disease is detected in the early stages, then if all the doctor's recommendations are followed, chlamydia can disappear from the body of a pregnant woman forever. In this case, the pregnancy will proceed without any complications. But if chlamydia occurs in the acute stage, and the treatment was prescribed incorrectly, then in the future this can lead to complete infertility. Therefore, it is better to plan pregnancy in advance. Then it will be possible to cure the disease even before it occurs. After all, chlamydia is very dangerous for a pregnant woman and for the unborn baby.

In order to avoid complications and diagnose the disease in time, a woman should visit a gynecologist at least once a year. If we are talking about pregnancy, then you should visit the doctor at least once a month. In addition to the mandatory tests of urine and feces, a woman must undergo all additional examinations that a doctor prescribes for her. Only after a complete examination will it be possible to talk about the health of the expectant mother.

If, during the examination, any disease is detected, including chlamydia, you should not immediately panic. It is necessary to figure out for what reason the infection could occur. A pregnant woman should understand that it is impossible to ignore the problem, since this can seriously harm not only her health, but also the unborn baby. Therefore, you need to follow all the doctor's recommendations regarding the prescribed treatment. Indeed, the sooner it turns out to get rid of the disease, the sooner a woman can fully enjoy her wonderful position.

Chlamydial infection is not uncommon among women who are expecting a baby. In most cases, the disease is asymptomatic, causing various pathologies during pregnancy. What is the threat of chlamydia to expectant mothers?

The reasons for the development of chlamydia

The disease is transmitted sexually and through household contact. The inflammatory process in the genital tract causes Chlamydia trachomatis. This microorganism prefers columnar epithelium, the mucous layer that lines the urethra and cervix. In addition, chlamydia can settle on the conjunctiva of the eyes or in the nasopharynx. In little girls, microorganisms are found on the vaginal mucosa.

Long-term study of the infection has shown that against the background of infection with chlamydia, there is a sharp decrease in the protective properties of the body. This explains the frequent transition of an acute illness into a chronic form. Chlamydia is often combined with other inflammatory processes of the genital tract, which leads to the appearance of symptoms that are not at all typical for this infection.

Chlamydia is predominantly sexually transmitted. The risk of infection increases in women who have a large number of sexual partners (both now and in the past). The contact-household route of transmission of chlamydia is quite rare, and is always associated with non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. It is possible that the infection from the mother to the newborn during childbirth.

Chlamydia symptoms

Chlamydia is a serious medical condition that can cause various problems during pregnancy. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the infectious process is often asymptomatic for a long time. This leads to late detection of the disease, and as a result, to the frequent development of complications. In 80% of pregnant women, chlamydia does not manifest itself in any way and becomes an accidental finding during the examination.

Specific symptoms by which it would be possible to determine chlamydia at the first examination, does not exist... The infection can manifest itself as cervicitis (inflammation of the cervical canal). In this case, the pregnant woman will notice the appearance of profuse yellowish discharge from the genital tract. Itching and burning in the vagina, pain during intercourse are possible. With the defeat of the urethra, urination becomes more frequent, false desires appear. The inflammation can also be felt by a burning sensation or pain when passing urine.

Chlamydial infection in pregnant women rarely occurs with an increase in body temperature. With eye damage, conjunctivitis develops. There is lacrimation, pain and itching in the eyes, intolerance to bright light sources. If chlamydia makes its way into the nasopharynx, pharyngitis develops with severe cough and runny nose. In pregnant women, these symptoms are rare. Damage to the eyes and nasopharynx is typical for newborns and young children.

Chlamydia in the postpartum period can make itself felt by the development of endometritis. Inflammation of the lining of the uterus manifests itself in the form of an increase in body temperature up to 38-40 ° C. There are severe pains in the lower abdomen, profuse purulent discharge from the genital tract. Such signs appear 5-10 days after the birth of the child and are considered a rather severe complication of the postpartum period.

Chlamydial infection can be exacerbated after abortion and other interventions in the uterine cavity. The symptoms of the disease do not differ from the signs of postpartum endometritis.

Chlamydia diagnosis

Chlamydial infection is difficult to recognize during gynecological examination, therefore laboratory methods are of great importance for its detection. To identify chlamydia, a scraping is taken from the mucous membrane of the cervix and urethra. In special cases, material for analysis can be taken from the rectum, as well as from the mucous membrane of the eyes and nasopharynx.

There are certain rules for taking material for the determination of chlamydia:

  • the patient should not take a shower for 24 hours before the examination;
  • local therapy (vaginal suppositories) should be discontinued 48 hours before taking the material;
  • antibiotic intake ends 4 weeks before the planned study.

Failure to follow these rules may result in incorrect results and unwanted interpretation.

To determine chlamydia is used PCR method(polymerase chain reaction). This method allows you to accurately determine whether there are infectious agents in the body of a pregnant woman. The PCR method does not provide a quantitative assessment of the result, but only shows the very fact of the presence of an infection. For chlamydia, this is quite enough. The causative agents of the disease should not be present in the body of a healthy woman, which means that any number of them requires treatment.

To establish the exact volume of microorganisms, ELISA(linked immunosorbent assay). This method allows you to find out what antibodies are present in the body of the expectant mother. The detection of class G immunoglobulins indicates that a woman has had chlamydia in the past, and now she has immunity against this infection. The appearance of class M immunoglobulins indicates either an acute infection or an exacerbation of a chronic process. In the first case, only M immunoglobulins will be determined. With an exacerbation of a chronic infection, along with M immunoglobulins, class G antibodies will also be present.

All women registering for pregnancy are screened for chlamydia. The sampling of material for analysis is carried out after the first visit. The sooner the infection is detected, the faster the treatment will be carried out. Only timely therapy of the disease will avoid the development of serious problems during pregnancy.

What is the threat of chlamydia to a woman?

When a chlamydial infection appears, problems begin even before the conception of the child. Many women simply cannot get pregnant with chlamydia. This disease, with a long course, leads to the development of chronic inflammation in the fallopian tubes. As a result, adhesions form in the pipes, which leads to their complete or partial obstruction. Chlamydia often becomes the cause of ectopic pregnancy precisely due to the formation of adhesions.

Since the disease has been asymptomatic for a long time, a woman may not know anything about her problem. Inflammation of the uterus and appendages is not always manifested by pain in the lower abdomen or bloody discharge from the genital tract. Often, the disease is detected only after the removal of the fallopian tube during the examination.

Chlamydial infection is also one of the common causes of infertility. Chlamydia is found in many women who cannot get pregnant for a year. It is this infection that the doctor first of all excludes when a woman who wants to have a baby turns to him.

Pregnancy, which occurs against the background of chlamydia, proceeds with complications. In the early stages, spontaneous miscarriage or at least the threat of termination of pregnancy with constant toning of the uterus is possible. In the second half of gestation, premature births often occur. Chlamydial infection during pregnancy can cause polyhydramnios as one of the manifestations of fetal infection.

The consequences of chlamydia for the fetus

During pregnancy, it is possible for the fetus to become infected with chlamydia located in the cervical canal and urethra. In the first trimester of pregnancy, infection often causes miscarriage. Even if the pregnancy can be maintained, it rarely goes well. Formed chorionamnionitis (inflammation of the membranes) further leads to the development of placental insufficiency. At the same time, the placenta cannot perform all its intended functions and provide the baby with oxygen and nutrients. Hypoxia develops - oxygen starvation of the fetus. This condition most of all affects the development of the nervous system, leading to the appearance of various neurological disorders in the newborn.

Lack of nutrients passing through the placenta also affects the formation of all organs of the baby. In the second half of pregnancy, intrauterine growth retardation is often found. This situation leads to the birth of a child with a low body weight, which in the future requires long-term treatment.

Infection of a child does not occur only in the womb. Very often, chlamydia gets to the newborn when it passes through the birth canal. Caesarean section does not prevent infection. Children born by surgery become infected with chlamydia quite often. In this case, the mucous membrane of the eyes and nose is damaged. In newborn girls, chlamydia settles in the genital tract, causing the development of colpitis.

Chlamydial infection in newborns is rarely limited to rhinitis and conjunctivitis. The inflammatory process can spread to the lungs, causing the development of pneumonia. Other internal organs are often affected: liver, kidneys, stomach and intestines. The baby's nervous system also suffers. There is increased excitability, frequent crying, profuse regurgitation, muscle tone decreases. All of these symptoms are not specific to chlamydia and can occur with many intrauterine infections.

Chlamydia treatment during pregnancy

Chlamydial infection is a disease that should not be left to chance. When chlamydia is detected, therapy is required to destroy the causative agent of the disease. Such measures make it possible to prevent complications of pregnancy and avoid infection of the fetus both in utero and during childbirth.

Chlamydia is not treated in the first trimester... Even if the infection has been detected for up to 12 weeks, doctors prefer to wait and not take any action. Antibiotics prescribed for chlamydia can negatively affect the development of the baby in the first trimester. In this case, the possible risk of treatment outweighs the benefit, and therefore expectant tactics are allowed.

If the chlamydial infection is accompanied by abundant discharge from the genital tract, local therapy is prescribed in the early stages. In the first trimester, it is allowed to use Fluomisin, Hexicon and Betadine. These vaginal suppositories are inserted into the vagina once a day (preferably at night). The course of local treatment is 6 to 10 days, depending on the drug used.

In most cases, vaginal suppositories are well tolerated by pregnant women. Occasionally, there is an itching or burning sensation in the vagina during treatment. In this case, experts recommend changing the drug to another that does not cause similar reactions.

From 16 weeks of gestation antibacterial agents are added to the treatment of chlamydia. Josamycin, a drug from the macrolide group, has proven itself well. The dosage of the medicinal product is determined by the physician. The course of therapy is 10-14 weeks. Spiramycin or clarithromycin may be used in place of josamycin. All of these products have undergone clinical trials, where their effectiveness has been proven. In the second half of pregnancy, these drugs do not have any negative effect on the condition of the expectant mother and her baby.

As a topical treatment in the second and third trimesters pregnancy is prescribed "Terzhinan", "McMimor", "Klion D100" and other drugs. These funds are also available in the form of vaginal suppositories and are applied once at night for 7-10 days. Such drugs affect a wide range of pathogens and can be used for mixed genital tract infections.

After the end of treatment, its effectiveness is monitored. 30 days after the withdrawal of antibiotics, PCR or ELISA is done. Re-treatment during pregnancy is usually not done. Experts believe that this does not make sense, since chlamydia was not susceptible to approved antibiotics. In this case, treatment resumes after the birth of the child.

In addition to antibiotic therapy, other drugs are prescribed:

  1. Preparations for stimulating immunity... For this purpose, in the second half of pregnancy, "Viferon" is prescribed. The drug is injected into the rectum once at night. The duration of treatment is 10 days. "Viferon" activates the body's defenses, helping it cope with infection during pregnancy.
  2. Vitamins... Much attention in the treatment of chlamydia is paid to the selection of vitamin complexes. These drugs not only tone up the body of the expectant mother, but also saturate the baby with useful substances necessary for its development. During pregnancy, it is recommended to take drugs designed specifically for women in an interesting position: Elevit, Vitrum Prenatal Forte and others. This approach to therapy allows you to increase immunity and improve the general condition of a pregnant woman.
  3. Mineral complexes... Instead of multivitamins, the gynecologist may prescribe the Femibion ​​mineral complex. This drug is available in two versions - separately for each half of the pregnancy. Femibion ​​is a balanced complex that supplies all the necessary nutrients and vitamins to a pregnant woman's body. Against the background of its use, there is a rapid increase in fetal weight and growth.
  4. Drugs that improve uteroplacental blood flow... The placenta with chlamydia does not always cope with its function. For the prevention of oxygen starvation of the fetus, agents are prescribed that activate blood flow in the placenta. For this purpose, actovegin, pentoxifylline and other drugs are used. The course of treatment lasts from 5 to 10 days.

Do I need to treat a baby with chlamydia?

Chlamydia in newborns is also amenable to antibiotic therapy. For the treatment of babies in the first days of life, erythromycin or other drugs from this group are used. In case of damage to internal organs, therapy is carried out in a hospital setting. Chlamydia obtained from the mother can persist in babies for three years.

Chlamydia is treated not only for a pregnant woman, but also for the father of her child. If both partners are left untreated, the infection will return soon. For the treatment of men, the same groups of antibacterial drugs are used. The selection of the dosage and control of the effectiveness of therapy is carried out by a urologist or andrologist.

It happens that during pregnancy a woman never finds out about her illness. This happens in expectant mothers who are not registered in the antenatal clinic or who refuse to be examined for chlamydia. If untreated, the baby becomes infected in utero or during childbirth. The infection is detected in a newborn, after which pediatricians begin treatment. At the same time, chlamydia therapy is also prescribed to a postpartum woman who did not receive medications during pregnancy.

How is childbirth with chlamydia?

Chlamydial infection that occurs during pregnancy is not an indication for caesarean section. Childbirth can take place through the vaginal birth canal, if there is no other reason for the operation. Chlamydia does not affect the course of the birth process in any way. Doctors are only afraid of infection of the baby during childbirth, so they take all measures to prevent this from happening.

Termination of pregnancy with chlamydia is not carried out. This disease is not an indication for medical abortion. The expectant mother is informed of the possible risks and is offered to undergo treatment for chlamydia in the second half of pregnancy.

Prevention of chlamydia

Chlamydial infection is a disease that is easier to prevent than cure. There are certain rules to avoid the development of the disease:

  • loyalty to a partner;
  • use of barrier methods of contraception (condoms);
  • compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
  • use of individual linen and towels;
  • timely treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

Women planning a pregnancy should be screened for chlamydia with their partner. If an infection is detected, parents-to-be should complete the full course of treatment before pregnancy. Such a measure is guaranteed to protect a woman and her baby from the serious consequences of chlamydia.

Chlamydia is an infection that occurs in many women during pregnancy. If all the doctor's recommendations are followed, the expectant mother has a chance to give birth to a healthy child. Timely diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia helps to avoid infection of the fetus and the development of serious health problems in the newborn.



Maria Sokolova - Pregnancy Expert at Colady magazine. A mother of three children, an obstetrician by training, a writer by vocation.

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Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in modern society. Unfortunately, according to statistics, this infection is found in 10% of pregnant women, so the issue of the safety of treating chlamydia during pregnancy is of concern to quite a few women. It is to him that we will try to give an answer today.

Chlamydia was discovered during pregnancy - what to do?

Every woman wants to bear, give birth and raise a healthy child. Therefore, at the planning stage of pregnancy, expectant mothers go through full examination, including for all kinds of hidden infections ... But sometimes situations occur that the disease occurs already during pregnancy. And one of the most unpleasant infections is precisely chlamydia .

Treatment of this infection during the period of bearing a child is a rather complicated and dangerous process, because during pregnancy it is not recommended to take medications, especially antibiotics, as this can provoke a violation in the development of the fetus or a miscarriage.

However, this disease cannot be ignored either. According to medical studies, women who did not undergo timely treatment had rather serious complications: premature birth, intrauterine hypoxia, rupture of the birth canal, premature rupture of amniotic fluid, etc.

Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia during pregnancy is a very urgent task.

But still, dear mothers, remember that chlamydia is not a tragedy. For its treatment in pregnant women, drugs are used that have minimal or no effect on the child.

What is required of you strictly follow the doctor's recommendations , and then you can give birth to a healthy baby. But if you ignore this infection, then it can cause not only serious complications of your health, but also be transmitted to the child during the passage through the birth canal.

Risks of chlamydia for the expectant mother

The main danger of chlamydia is that it can cause mass complications in a pregnant woman's body:

  • Severe toxicosis;
  • Anemia;
  • Polyhydramnios;
  • In early pregnancy, it is possible freezing of the fetus or natural termination of pregnancy;
  • Inflammatory processes on the inner lining of the uterus;
  • Inflammation of the amniotic fluid;
  • Premature birth .

Timely diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia in pregnant women is a necessity that must be fulfilled so that a woman can carry and give birth to a healthy baby .

Does chlamydia affect a child?

In addition to the fact that chlamydia can cause a lot of complications in a woman, it is very dangerous for a baby.

  1. In early pregnancy, this infection can cause severe placental insufficiency , as a result of which the fetus stops in development and freezes.
  2. Also, placental insufficiency can cause a child hypoxia , as a result of which the child will not have enough oxygen. And this, as you know, is not very good. At best, due to hypoxia, a child can be born with mild muscle failure, and at worst, with a severely impaired development of the nervous system.
  3. Chlamydia can also cause disruption in the supply of nutrients to the fetus , which can also give disastrous results. If the violation is mild, then the child can be born with a small body weight, vitamin deficiency, severe anemia.

All of the above complications can develop in the first or second trimester of pregnancy. But at a later date, chlamydia can infect the baby himself. This infection affects the internal organs of the crumbs - liver, kidneys, pancreas ... The life of your baby will depend on the severity of the disease. However, a child can become infected not only in utero, but also during the passage through the birth canal ... Chlamydia can get on the mucous membranes of the eyes, nasopharynx, genitals. And the consequence of this will be conjunctivitis or chlamydial pneumonia ... Therefore, if you are diagnosed with chlamydia during pregnancy, it is necessary to start treating this disease without delay, it is imperative - under the supervision of a doctor ... So you can significantly reduce the harm done to the health of the baby.

Effective treatment of chlamydia in expectant mothers

From all of the above, only one conclusion can be drawn: pregnancy and chlamydia are not best friends. This means that it is necessary to get rid of this disease as soon as possible.

All information about treatment and medications on our website is given for informational purposes only, and is not a medical recommendation .

The process of treatment greatly complicates the position of a woman, because during pregnancy, not all medications can be taken. Since chlamydia is located inside the cells, only antibiotics can destroy them.

Today, for the treatment of pregnant women, the most modern medicines, antibiotics from a number of macrolides are used.

  • Pregnant women are most often prescribed: Erythromycin, Amoxicillin, Ofloxacin.
  • Can also be applied Viferon candles.

In addition to you, your sexual partner should also undergo treatment, even if he does not have any symptoms of this infection.

During treatment and for two weeks after it, it is not recommended to have sex. The exact dosage and dosage regimen can only be prescribed by your attending physician. .

Remember - self-medication is dangerous for your health, and also threatens the life of your baby.

The cost of drugs for chlamydia in pharmacies

  • Erythromycin - 70 - 100 rubles;
  • Amoxicillin - 50-80 rubles;
  • Ofloxacin - 16-50 rubles;
  • Viferon - 250-400 rubles.

The site warns: self-medication can harm your health! All the tips presented are for reference, but they should only be used as directed by a doctor!

A woman can become infected with chlamydia before pregnancy, during conception and directly while carrying a child.

Infection occurs imperceptibly, and chlamydia multiply not earlier than after 3 days. Diseases that chlamydia trachomatis causes in women during pregnancy are erased. This is especially bad because the mom-to-be may not even be aware that she is sick.

Why chlamydia is dangerous for a pregnant woman, how to recognize chlamydia and how to treat it - we will tell you the most important thing about it.

How do chlamydia manifest during pregnancy

Chlamydiae can live and multiply only in the cells of the human columnar epithelium. This tissue is just lined with the cervical canal and its cavity. Therefore, bacteria "gladly" settle on the surfaces of these organs if they enter the body of a pregnant woman.

Left - normal cervix, right - eroded cervix

However, there is a difference between how chlamydia progresses in pregnant women and in other people.

During pregnancy, especially favorable conditions for chlamydia occur, because a woman's immunity during this period is simply "not up to them." The fact is that the body's defense system is being rebuilt - it stops spending energy on diseases if they do not threaten the child in the very near future. Therefore, the manifestations of diseases that “distract” from gestation disappear in the expectant mother. As a result, chlamydia during pregnancy is almost asymptomatic.

Chlamydia symptoms during pregnancy appear only in 10-15% of expectant mothers. For example, when examining the cervix, the doctor may detect erosion. This is a non-healing wound on the surface of the cervix caused by chlamydia. It may be an indirect sign of chlamydia, but still does not indicate directly the presence of chlamydia.

Chlamydia during pregnancy is almost asymptomatic

Unfortunately, there are almost no other visible or tangible signs of chlamydia during pregnancy. An ailing woman looks usually, the external state of her genitals is also normal, and her state of health reflects only how the pregnancy proceeds as a whole, not hinting at chlamydia.

As for the manifestations of chlamydia during breastfeeding, there are practically none of them either. The condition of a woman during this period is no different from the usual one, because most often the disease proceeds in an erased form.

However, this does not mean that chlamydia during pregnancy or during feeding cannot be diagnosed. It is possible to identify chlamydia in an expectant mother or in a nursing woman in the same ways as in other people. For example, antigens against chlamydia in the blood can be detected if the infection was sexually transmitted - both before pregnancy and during pregnancy.

Treatment for chlamydia while breastfeeding is also quite possible. There are antibiotics for chlamydia that are approved for breastfeeding. Therefore, it is not necessary to stop it during treatment. Chlamydia itself does not penetrate into breast milk and it is impossible to infect a child in this way.

Consequences and complications of chlamydia for pregnant women

Although during pregnancy chlamydia itself is sluggish and rarely manifests itself externally, its complications are very dangerous both for the general health of the woman and for her pregnancy. They appear during the period of gestation, during the birth of the child and after childbirth.

Often these complications are not even associated with chlamydial infection, although it is in fact that it is the cause of many sad consequences. Let's take a closer look at how chlamydia is dangerous for pregnancy.

Chlamydia and ectopic pregnancy

- the likelihood of getting pregnant after an ectopic pregnancy

When chlamydia enters the uterus (this is possible in the first half of the menstrual cycle), they reach the fallopian tubes. There they multiply and cause changes in the pipes - adhesions (that is, internal scars). The adhesions block the passage through the tube into the uterus for the fertilized egg. Because of this, the embryo does not enter the uterus, and is attached to the wall of the fallopian tube. This is how an ectopic pregnancy develops, which is interrupted for up to 10 weeks.

In an ectopic pregnancy, the tube may rupture and the woman is at risk of dying from bleeding. If doctors have time to help, then they remove the damaged fallopian tube. Unfortunately, this reduces the chances of getting pregnant again by 50%.

Miscarriage due to chlamydia

If adhesions do not form inside the tube, and a normal pregnancy occurs, can chlamydia then provoke a miscarriage? Maybe for any period.

If a woman becomes pregnant without being treated for chlamydia or chlamydia, she entered the woman's body already during her pregnancy, then infection of the ovum (the membrane that surrounds the fetus at very early stages of formation) is likely to occur. An inflammatory process begins, which leads to suppuration of the ovum and the death of the fetus. Then the mother's body rejects the dead child.

Sometimes there is a condition of the so-called frozen pregnancy- when a miscarriage does not occur, but the child has already died. This is especially dangerous for a woman's life: she still considers herself pregnant (no menstruation, she feels normal), but at this time the dead fetus releases highly toxic substances. This can lead to infection of the woman's blood and her death.

Chlamydia and preterm labor

If chlamydia "got" to the child at a later stage of pregnancy, then premature birth may occur. This happens when bacteria invade the membranes and cause inflammation. It ends with a rupture of the fetal bladder: the amniotic fluid leaves too early.

Such a development of events threatens the death of the fetus. If doctors have time to help, the premature baby is removed by caesarean section. Unfortunately, in this case, the baby is highly likely to become infected with chlamydia. Therefore, the answer to the question: "Is it possible to give birth to a healthy child with chlamydia?" understandable: it is possible, but the risk of infection is high.


Ways of transmission of chlamydia from mother to child

The transmission of chlamydia from mother to fetus occurs during pregnancy at different times or directly during childbirth.

Ways of transmission of infection:

  • intrauterine
  • transplacental (through the child's place - the placenta)

    • The penetration of chlamydia occurs through the vessels of the placenta - this is how chlamydia penetrates the fetal circulatory system.

  • hematogenous (through blood)

    • Hematogenous infection occurs when chlamydia enters the mother's bloodstream. This can happen with anal intercourse. In the rectum, with external intervention, microcracks are always formed through which chlamydia freely penetrate into the blood cells and go on a journey throughout the body. Including they get to the child. This can happen both through the vessels of the placenta and the uterus. It turns out that anal sex during pregnancy is a fairly common reason for chlamydia to enter the bloodstream.

  • intranatal (generic)

    • The defenses of a woman's body can prevent chlamydia from multiplying during gestation. But then infection can still occur - already during childbirth. When the baby passes through the birth canal, he gets all the bacteria that the mother has in her vagina. This route of infection is called intranatal (obtained during childbirth).

How does chlamydia affect the fetus?

Depending on the path through which the infection has penetrated, chlamydia in the fetus (and subsequently in the newborn) proceeds in different ways. The onset of the inflammatory process with each pathway of chlamydia is different. The different consequences of chlamydia in the fetus depend on the place through which bacteria enter its body - doctors call these places the entrance gate. Let us consider separately how chlamydia affects pregnancy and the fetus.

Consequences of intrauterine infection

It is important to know that chlamydia can cause miscarriage. With intrauterine infection with chlamydia, it first develops chorioamnionitis- purulent inflammation of the membranes, which can lead to miscarriage or premature birth.

If this does not happen, then from the fetal membrane, chlamydia gets into the amniotic fluid, and from them into the fetus. Then bacteria infect the mucous membranes: the eye (conjunctivitis), intestines (enteritis) and the intermediate tissues of the lungs (pneumonitis). This happens because the child makes breathing movements, swallows amniotic fluid and thereby passes the infected fluid through the lungs.

After childbirth, when air enters the lungs of such a child, the chlamydial lesion also spreads to the alveoli - pneumonitis becomes severe pneumonia... Chlamydial infection also affects the urogenital system of the fetus, because the amniotic fluid is excreted from the child's body in the urine, and before that it passes through the liver and kidneys.

Consequences of transplacental infection

If the fetus is infected through the placenta, then chlamydia immediately enters the largest vessels of the child. Therefore, when the infection enters the blood of the fetus in this way, the mucous membranes of all organs suffer from chlamydia.

In particular, the child develops:

  • intrauterine chlamydia of the membranes of the brain - meningitis;
  • chlamydial inflammation of the mucous membranes in the kidneys - pyelonephritis;
  • chlamydia of the mucous membranes of the lungs - pneumonitis.

Transplacental infection can result in fetal death at any stage of pregnancy.

Consequences of hematogenous infection

The hematogenous route of infection differs from the placental one in that chlamydia enters the fetus not through the vessels of the placenta, but through the umbilical vein and in much larger quantities.

In this case, the fetus is simultaneously affected through the blood and mucous membranes of the digestive, respiratory and urinary systems. Hematogenous damage to the body can also cause fetal death at any stage of pregnancy. The child may have hemorrhages in the brain, adrenal glands, kidneys, and lungs.

Complications of chlamydia in a woman after pregnancy

Chlamydia is dangerous for a woman not only during pregnancy, but also after. The changes that occur to the body after childbirth or abortion make a woman's genitals more vulnerable to the destructive activity of chlamydia.

Chlamydial endometritis

Inflammation is manifested by an increase in body temperature up to 30-40 ° C. Treatment of endometritis in severe cases may result in removal of the uterus. This is what chlamydia can lead to in pregnant women.

Treatment of endometritis in severe cases can result in removal of the uterus

Cervical erosion

As we already wrote at the beginning of the article, due to chlamydia, a woman may begin to erode the cervix - even before or during pregnancy. But it is even worse that changes in hormonal levels after childbirth worsen the course of erosion: anatomical changes occur in the cervix, which translate the disease into a chronic form.

If outside pregnancy, erosion can be cured with antibiotics, then after childbirth this disease can provoke cancer problems. Therefore, it is necessary to treat only with the help of an operation.

Symptoms of chlamydia in newborns

The course of chlamydia in newborns manifests itself in two variants: either in the form of an exacerbation of intrauterine chlamydia (i.e., which the baby acquired even before birth), or in the form of an initial acute infection - if the infection occurred during childbirth (when chlamydia passes to the child during the passage of labor paths).

Manifestations of chlamydia of a newborn with intrauterine infection

If chlamydia is left untreated during pregnancy, the baby can develop pneumonia before birth. As we have already said, the unborn baby makes breathing movements, passing amniotic fluid into the lungs. If chlamydia is present in them, then they are deposited in the lung tissue and begin to actively multiply.

Left - normal airways, right - airways in bronchial asthma

Over time, these inflammatory changes lead to the "sticking" of the alveolar vesicles. After giving birth, such a child cannot take the first breath and needs artificial ventilation. This is why chlamydia is dangerous for a newborn with damage to lung tissue.

If congenital pneumonia is asymptomatic, then the child develops hypersensitivity to allergens. Children born to mothers infected with chlamydia often suffer from bronchial asthma.

A separate form of chlamydia in newborns who have acquired an infection through the blood (hematogenous) leads to dangerous consequences affecting the central nervous system. These children may develop meningitis in infancy or mental retardation at school age.

Manifestations of chlamydia in children who become infected during childbirth

How chlamydia manifests itself in newborns can be seen on the right - in hidden photos. In this case, acute chlamydial infection in newborns proceeds in the form of the following diseases:

  • conjunctivitis - inflammation of the eyelids;
  • rhinitis - runny nose;
  • pneumonia;
  • urethritis / vaginitis.

Chlamydia obtained in childbirth manifests itself in newborns with symptoms of conjunctivitis almost immediately after birth: abundant discharge from under the eyelids, characteristic of congenital chlamydia, has a glassy consistency.

Also, with chlamydia, babies often have a runny nose - it appears about 4 days after birth. This is the first sign of a respiratory (respiratory) form of chlamydia lesions in newborns.

Chlamydia in infants can follow the same scenario as in an adult. In the chronic form, boys develop urethritis, and girls develop vaginitis.

In some cases, with a healthy immune response (in breastfed babies), chlamydiae form L-forms, which do not manifest themselves in any way. A person becomes a carrier of sexual infection even before the start of sexual activity.

Due to the fact that chlamydia occurs in an erased form during pregnancy, it is especially dangerous for expectant mothers: a woman does not know about her illness and infects the child either in the womb or during childbirth.

In some cases, chlamydia in a child does not appear, but he becomes a hidden carrier of the infection - in this situation, his own health suffers greatly, and the people whom he can infect by starting a sex life.

Without treatment for chlamydia during pregnancy, a woman cannot avoid all dangerous complications, both for the child and for her body.

In some cases, chlamydia in a child does not appear, but he becomes a hidden carrier of the infection

To find out about the presence of chlamydia, it is very important to be tested for sexually transmitted infections before or at least during pregnancy. You can ask for help at the antenatal clinic or in KVD at the place of residence.

Chlamydia treatment is possible at any gestation period. Wherein the medications themselves do not harm the child's health... However, if you are late, you can face severe irreversible consequences for the baby and mother, which antibiotics can no longer remove.

Permanent relationships, long-awaited pregnancy and registration in the antenatal clinic and ... dozens of tests for genital infections. Why is this needed? - many women are perplexed.

Many expectant mothers are confused by the very possibility of detecting chlamydia infection during pregnancy. However, there is nothing strange about this. According to statistics, more than 10% of pregnant women are carriers of chlamydia.

The discovery of chlamydia during pregnancy in no way means that the woman was promiscuous. This infection is found in 60% of men and 70% of women of childbearing age, and only two-thirds of them suspect the presence of an infection in their body. The rest of the patients find out about her only during a routine medical examination or registration for pregnancy in an antenatal clinic.

At the same time, chlamydia during pregnancy is not something out of the ordinary. This is what makes it different from other STIs - the infection is so widespread and has such insignificant symptoms that it is often started to be treated only after accidentally detecting traces of pathogenic microflora or other analyzes.


A smear for genital infections is a mandatory procedure for pregnant women

Chlamydia bacteria in pregnant women provoke the same processes as in other women. Entering the cells of the body, they lead a secretive lifestyle - about 70% of patients do not even suspect that they are developing. Meanwhile, chlamydia and pregnancy are by no means a favorable combination. According to gynecologists and urologists, more than 50% of all health problems of a future baby are associated with this microorganism.

Danger to the expectant mother and baby

The most popular question for expectant mothers is what is the danger of chlamydia in women during pregnancy? They ask it in most cases after the infection was detected when registering with the antenatal clinic. Unfortunately, many do not take the disease seriously, arguing about the relative safety of the infection, since it does not cause any inconvenience, that is, it proceeds in a latent form. However, one should not hope for a good neighborhood with chlamydia.

Treatment options for pregnancy

Chlamydia can be cured during pregnancy in a relatively short period of time. With a competent approach, this process usually does not cause difficulties. To begin with, the doctor finds out which organs and tissues have suffered from the activity of chlamydia, what symptoms occur, and to which drugs microorganisms are sensitive.


You can treat chlamydia during pregnancy with medications that your doctor recommends.

With inflammation of the mucous membranes (vulvitis, vulvovaginitis, endocervicitis), local treatment with antibacterial drugs is used while taking antibiotics approved for use during pregnancy. With inflammation of the appendages, chlamydia in pregnant women is treated only with antibiotics that do not penetrate the placental barrier (to reduce the negative effect on the fetus).