You can get genital chlamydial infection during oral, vaginal, or anal sexual contact with a partner that is affected. An infant can get chlamydia from an infected mother during pregnancy. Different individuals experience different symptoms. Women may experience lower abdominal pain or pain during intercourse, bleeding during intercourse and bleeding between menstrual periods. Symptoms may appear within one to three weeks after being infected.
Chlamydial infections can lead to other serious health problems.
It affects men and women differently. Chlamydia may cause permanent damage to the woman's reproductive organs and can lead to infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. In men, untreated chlamydia can affect the testicles and ultimately lead to infertility. Chlamydia can affect the mother and child during pregnancy. Chlamydia can cause early labor and delivery and can be passed from mother to baby during birth.