Duration of Untreated Uncomplicated Genital Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection and Factors Associated with Chlamydia Resolution

Most C. trachomatis infections are asymptomatic, without evidence of complications at the time of diagnosis. The natural history of chlamydial infection, including the duration of infection and factors influencing resolution, is not yet completely understood. Human studies on the duration of untreated genital C. trachomatis infections demonstrate that chlamydia clearance increases over time, with approximately half of infections spontaneously resolving approximately one year after initial testing. However, a lack of precise data on the timing of infection acquisition, a lack of C. trachomatis strain typing methodologies, and the generalizability of findings are major limitations of natural history studies to date.