Chlamydia vaccine shows promise in early trial

An early-stage clinical trial yielded promising results for a chlamydia vaccine, a phase 1 trial finds. Chlamydia is a common STI that can lead to infertility in women.

An early-stage clinical trial yielded promising results for a chlamydia vaccine, researchers reported Thursday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 

There is currently no vaccine to protect against the sexually transmitted infection, which is the most common bacterial STI in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, there were more than 1.6 million cases.

Chlamydia remains one of the most common causes of infertility in women, said Dr. Jay Varma, professor of population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Untreated, the infection — which usually doesn’t cause symptoms in women — can cause  pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to scar tissue that makes it harder to get pregnant.  

“This is desperately needed,” said David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors. “We have the highest STI rates in America since the 1950s and possibly beyond.”

The bacteria can also cause an eye infection that’s responsible for vision loss in 1.9 million people worldwide. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/sexual-health/chlamydia-vaccine-shows-promise-early-trial-rcna147479

---