std symptoms can cause DNA damage that may increase the risk of later developing cancer, a new study suggests.

In the study, human cells growing in lab dishes that were infected with chlamydia were more likely to have DNA damage compared to cells not infected with chlamydia. What's more, this DNA damage was not always repaired properly by the cell, increasing the chances of genetic mutations.

Normally, cells with such DNA damage would activate a process that kills the cells, so that the cell does not turn cancerous. But in the study, the cells with DNA damage overrode this mechanism, and continued to divide. The continued division of cells with DNA mutations could eventually lead to cancer, the researchers said.

Earlier studies found an association between chlamydia infections and an increased risk of cervical and ovarian cancer in people, but such studies cannot prove cause and effect. The new study provides a biological explanation for how chlamydia could increase the risk of cancer.

However, because the study was conducted in cells in a lab dish, more research is needed to show the same thing occurs in people.

The new study, conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, was published June 12 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Most infected people have no symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, untreated infections can damage the reproductive tract in women, and cause infertility. Complications from untreated infections are rare in men, but the condition can cause a burning sensation when urinating, and very rarely, prevent a man from fathering children, the CDC says.

Persistent infection by Chlamydia Treatment may increase the risk of cancer via damage to the DNA, according to a report published in the journal Cell Host & Damage. In addition to mutating host cell DNA, the disease also inhibits cellular mechanisms intended to repair the damage.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin grew human cells in a lab, then infecting them with chlamydia. The group of cells infected were more likely to show damage than their uninfected counterparts.

The researchers also found that the damage done to the cells is similar to the damage done by cancer. Cells that did not simply die when infected went on to reproduce others imprinted with the same DNA damage.

In 2009, the Center For Disease Control reported that 84,000 women were diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. It's unclear how many may have been linked with a chlamydia infection, but doctors urge women - who can host the disease for long periods of time with no symptoms - to get screened for it.

Persistent infection by chlamydia and gonorrhea may increase the risk of cancer via damage to the DNA, according to a report published in the journal Cell Host & Damage. In addition to mutating host cell DNA, the disease also inhibits cellular mechanisms intended to repair the damage.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin grew human cells in a lab, then infecting them with chlamydia. The group of cells infected were more likely to show damage than their uninfected counterparts.

The researchers also found that the damage done to the cells is similar to the damage done by cancer. Cells that did not simply die when infected went on to reproduce others imprinted with the same DNA damage.

In 2009, the Center For Disease Control reported that 84,000 women were diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. It's unclear how many may have been linked with a chlamydia infection, but doctors urge women - who can host the disease for long periods of time with no symptoms - to get screened for it.