Can Chlamydia Stay Dormant Without Displaying Symptoms For Years?

Posted on Mon, 12 Mar 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 Answered on

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi there. I was recently told I had Chlamydia after my annual Pap smear test. I’m totalky shocked by this because I’ve been married 6 years and together with my husband 11 years total. I know that I’ve been faithful. I had a retest done today so I’m waiting for the results. Of course my husband is saying he has never cheated and I really want to believe him. We have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. So my question is wouldn’t I have been checked with both of my pregnancies? Is it even possible that it could lay dormant in either one of us for that many years and show no symptoms?? I’m so upset and keep reading so many things. Help!

Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:

Chlamydia transmission

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Chlamydia can stay dormant in your body for many years without causing any symptoms.

However, if you were an asymptomatic carrier, you would have already tested positive while testing during pregnancy.

So it can be concluded that you did not have an asymptomatic dormant infection before and this current episode is a new infection.

If you need additional clarification blood testing can differentiate between new and old chlamydia infection. IgM antibodies will be positive in New infections whereas IgG antibodies will be positive in old infections.

Please have an open conversation with your partner preferably with the presence of your doctor.

If your husband was already a carrier before, then also you would have already caught the infection before and tested positive during pregnancy.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Lekshmi Rita Venugopal, General & Family Physician

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T