Pregnancy complications

• Pregnancy complications may need special medical care.
• Common problems include anemia, diabetes and bleeding.
• Ask your provider about the signs of serious complications.

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection. About 3 million new cases occur each year in both men and women. Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. If a pregnant woman gets chlamydia and goes untreated, she may have a premature baby. If a baby becomes infected during delivery, he or she may develop eye infections (pink eye, conjunctivitis) or breathing problems.

Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about 3 out of 4 women who are infected don't have symptoms. Some women have a change in vaginal discharge or pain when they urinate.

Health care providers use lab tests to diagnose chlamydia in women. Some tests use a urine sample. Other tests use a sample taken from the woman's cervix.

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics.

What you can do
Ask your health care provider to screen you for chlamydia early in pregnancy. If you are infected, you can get antibiotics to treat the infection. This will prevent any complications for you and your baby.

Be sure your partner is also screened. Partners can pass the infection back and forth between themselves.

While you're pregnant, you can avoid chlamydia by not having sex. If you do have sex:

• Have sex with only one partner who is having sex only with you, has been tested for chlamydia, and is not infected
• Use a latex condom

If your provider gives you antibiotics, be sure to take them as directed.

For more information

• CDC information line
  (800) 232-4636
  In English and Spanish
  TTY for the deaf and hard of hearing (888) 232-6348
• American Social Health Association