Infertility and STDs

How STDs Can Lead to Infertility

When left untreated, certain STDs can damage reproductive organs, leading to infertility in both men and women.

In women, STDs are some of the most common reasons for tubal factor infertility, as the infection can have an extremely negative impact on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix by causing scarring, blockages, or inflammation.

Infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea can move upwards into the uterus, fallopian tubes, & surrounding tissues through the vagina and cervix, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). In turn, PID can scar and block the fallopian tubes, causing tubal factor infertility, which accounts for 30%-40% of all infertility cases seen in women.

In men, certain STDs can cause inflammation in the tubes that carry sperm, also known as the epididymis. The condition, known as epididymitis, may cause scarring and blockages, lowering the sperm count or completely blocking the release of sperm. Untreated infections can also cause Erectile Dysfunction (ED) in men.

Unfortunately, such diseases or infections do not show symptoms or warning signs early on. This means that someone carrying an STI may have no idea that the infection is causing any damage to their body. That said, here are some red flags to watch for:

• Constant pain in lower abdomen/back
• Unusual discharge from vagina or penis
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Pain in the testes
• Fever
• Bleeding/spotting for no known reason

STDs Most Commonly Associated with Infertility

• Chlamydia: Untreated chlamydia can damage the uterus and fallopian tubes in women. In men, it can be harmful to sperm health and lead to male infertility.
• Gonorrhoea: One of the top causes of PID, gonorrhoea thrives in the female reproductive tract, causing damage to the uterus and the fallopian tubes especially. Gonorrhoea can lead to epididymitis in men.
• Syphilis: If the pregnant woman has syphilis, she can pass the infection to her baby. If you are pregnant with untreated syphilis, you are more likely to have a miscarriage or stillbirth. In men, the infection can indirectly affect fertility by causing inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis) or scarring of the sperm ducts.
• Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV): Even though HSV does not directly lead to infertility problems or affect reproductive system organs, the virus can delay pregnancy since sexual intercourse should be avoided completely during an outbreak. Moreover, herpes can affect men by decreasing the sperm count.

Effects on Women vs Men

Warning Signs to Watch Out For

As mentioned above, STIs or STDs are silent in nature, especially at the beginning. Since the body does not show any immediate symptoms, it can be difficult to catch if you have contracted any of the sexually transmitted diseases. Despite its stealthy nature, there are still some warning signs you might be on the lookout for, including:

• Unusual discharge from male and female genitals
• Painful urination
• Burning sensation during urination
• Pelvic or lower abdominal pain
• Painful intercourse
• Testicular pain and/or swelling
• Irregular bleeding between periods
• Fever in advanced cases

If you notice any of these signs, it is worth getting checked by a professional, as catching such infections early on can protect long-term fertility.

Prevention and Protection

Protecting yourself and your fertility from sexually transmitted diseases starts with a few consistent habits:

• Make sure you are regularly using condoms during any sexual activity
• Get yourself and your partner tested regularly
• Have open conversations with your partner about their testing history
• When in doubt, get tested immediately without waiting for symptoms
• Follow up on treatment completely, even if symptoms disappear

Conclusion

Understanding the relationship between fertility and sexually transmitted diseases is an important topic nowadays. That being said, having all the facts and knowledge of the topic may be just the thing you need to keep your fertility intact. Most of these infections can be detected by simple tests and are curable, especially when caught in the early stages.

If you are concerned about past infections, current symptoms, or their effect on your fertility, the best first step to take is getting yourself tested. With advances and cutting-edge procedures incorporated at healthcare institutions, medical support and treatment options have become better than ever.