Chlamydia Screening Warning

Annual chlamydia screening may not protect women from pelvic inflammatory disease, new research has claimed.

The British Medical Journals said it is unlikely that single screening for chlamydia will prevent women developing the disease in the following year.

The study concludes that most cases of pelvic inflammatory disease occurred in women who did not have chlamydia infection when they were screened, suggesting they may have become infected later.

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the USA and Europe with over 3 million new infections diagnosed each year.

The infection often has no symptoms and remains undiagnosed. This is concerning because untreated chlamydia in women can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can result in infertility, chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy.

Report author Jessica Sheringham, from University College London, said: "It is disappointing but not surprising that this study could not provide a clear answer as to whether screening is effective in reducing the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease."

Ms Sheringham said doubt remains on whether screening can reduce the prevalence of chlamydia and that further research is needed to improve understanding of chlamydia and its associated reproductive health risks.

(PR/BMcC)