The chance of becoming infected with chlamydia can be reduced by avoiding risky sexual behaviors. Sex partners should receive treatment even if they do not have any symptoms. When left untreated, chlamydia can increase the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV , the virus that causes AIDS . It 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, leading to swelling and pain.
Related complications can lead to infertility.
Chlamydia can cause early labor and delivery and can be passed from mother to baby during birth. Without prompt medical treatment, the infant's eyes can be seriously and permanently damaged. There are a variety of laboratory tests that can be used to diagnose chlamydia infection. Tests are done with either a urine sample or a sample obtained from a woman's cervix or a man's urethra, using a cotton swab. Chlamydia can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics.