Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Treating Chlamydia during Pregnancy | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
Hi Doc! I have a big question for you. I'm seven months pregnant right now, and I think I have a chlamydia infection. Is there any cure for that right now or is it too late to take the antibiotics because I'm already on my third trimester? Please help me! Thank you! Hope you can help me with my problem!— PrettyMoM in Pittsburg, CA U.S.A. | | | ANSWER |
February 28, 2002 | | | Dear PrettyMoM,
Yes! It is never too late to treat chlamydia in pregnancy, and you really should treat it as soon as you can. If untreated, the organism can get into the baby's eyes during childbirth and cause a serious infection.
Call your doctor or midwife and tell her that you think you have contracted chlamydia, and she will do tests and prescribe an antibiotic for you. The antibiotic azithromycin (Zithromax) is considered safe in pregnancy, and works with only one dose. Alternatively, you can take erythromycin, which is safe and much less expensive, but has to be taken for a week. Be sure that your partner is treated as well, and abstain from intercourse or use condoms if you have sex with him again, so you can do your best to avoid another infection.
It is great that you checked this out, and that you are trying to do the right thing for your baby. Take care of yourself, too.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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