Chlamydia in Pregnancy

Dr Kathryn Basford

Medically reviewed by

Dr Kathryn Basford

Last reviewed: 01 May 2019

Treating chlamydia during pregnancy

Contents
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Key takeaways

  • Having untreated chlamydia during pregnancy can put your baby's health at risk

  • Chlamydia can cause miscarriages, premature births, and stillbirths, and it can also be passed onto your baby during childbirth

  • There are antibiotic treatments for chlamydia that are safe to take during pregnancy and safe for women breastfeeding after pregnancy

  • Online Doctor chlamydia treatment is not suitable for pregnant women - it’s important that you speak with your regular doctor or midwife to ensure the best care for you and your baby

If you are pregnant and have been diagnosed with chlamydia, you may be worried about passing the infection on to your baby.

Pregnant women with an untreated chlamydia infection are at a greater risk of developing complications such as a miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth.

The first thing you should do is discuss your condition with your GP or midwife to find out which antibiotic is best for you. In general, azithromycin or amoxicillin (amongst others) are suitable for pregnant women.

How do you treat chlamydia in pregnancy?

STIs, including chlamydia, increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancies (see below).

The first step is to get tested for chlamydia or other STIs to find out if you’ve been infected. Chlamydia treatment is inexpensive and suitable for pregnant women. Please note, that ZAVA does not prescribe chlamydia treatment for pregnant women. You need to speak to your GP or midwife to discuss treatment options during pregnancy.

Treating chlamydia in pregnancy

To treat chlamydia in pregnancy, common antibiotics such as azithromycin, erythromycin and amoxicillin are suitable options. Research suggests, that these antibiotics are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

However, providing treatment to a pregnant woman needs to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, so pregnant women should always consult their GP before taking any medication.

If your doctor decides that treating you with antibiotics is safe, you will most likely be prescribed one of the following:

  • A single dose of azithromycin
  • A one week course of amoxicillin
  • A one week course of erythromycin

Side effects are rare, but range from diarrhoea to vomiting and nausea. Erythromycin often produces more side effects than the two other antibiotics.

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More on antibiotics

Amoxicillin is a type of penicillin. If you know that you’re allergic to penicillin, don't take it. You should consult your GP if you suspect that you are allergic to penicillin.

Is my baby safe?

The main risk of chlamydia during pregnancy is that you could transmit the disease to your baby during childbirth.

If you get your chlamydia infection treated before delivery, your baby should be safe.

Why won't ZAVA treat pregnant women?

Pregnant women are much more complex to diagnose and so a face-to-face visit to the doctor is essential to determine which treatment is best for them.

For this reason, we’ve decided not to treat pregnant women. However, if you’re looking for a discreet and convenient way to get tested for chlamydia, we can send you a test kit via post.

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Medically reviewed by:
Dr Kathryn Basford Accreditations: MB, ChB, MPH

Dr Kathryn Basford is a qualified GP who works as a GP in London, as well as with ZAVA. She graduated from the University of Manchester and completed her GP training through Whipps Cross Hospital in London.

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Last reviewed: 01 May 2019

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Bacterial infections of chlamydia need to be treated with antibiotics. ZAVA offers a range of these through a fast and discreet service.




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