Sexually transmitted diseases impact people from all walks of life, no matter what age or background. In just the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 19 million new cases every year, and almost half of those cases happen among youth between 15 and 24 years old…
STDs are not a pleasant topic, but it might just be the answer to why you have not yet gotten pregnant. If you were careless at some point with possibly a few youthful indiscretions in your past, or maybe even a new partner with an unpleasant surprise, you could be one of the millions of folks with a case of sexually transmitted infection or disease. Chances are that you do not even know it, yet it could be the very cause of your problems getting pregnant.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
These are the most preventable causes of infertility. Approximately 2.8 million cases of chlamydia and more than 750,000 cases of gonorrhea take place each year in the United States. Unfortunately, most women infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea never realize it because they do not experience any symptoms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), if left untreated, as many as 40% of women with either chlamydia or gonorrhea will develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or some type of long-lasting infection. PID can cause irreversible damage to the fallopian tubes, which can lead to infertility and possibly even a fatal ectopic pregnancy.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is basically caused by the body overreacting to an infection. Normally, the cervix prevents bacteria that enter the vagina from spreading to the internal reproductive organs. If the cervix becomes infected however, it is less able to prevent the spread of any bacteria to those reproductive organs. As the immune system tries to fight off the invading bacteria, it causes local inflammation and scarring. Although this may provide a wall to stop the infection inside the reproductive tract, it can damage those organs. Untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia cause approximately 90% of all PID cases.
A woman with PID may not ever feel any symptoms. It is important to note, however, that symptoms of PID could include the following: longer and/or heavier menstrual periods, spotting or cramps throughout the month, unusual vaginal discharge (including change in smell, color, or amount), lower abdominal pain and/or lower back pain, tiredness, weakness, fever, nausea and vomiting, painful sex, and burning when urinating.
HPV
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of viruses that infect the skin. There are many distinctive types of HPV; certain types of HPV cause warts on the hands or feet, while other types can trigger warts on the genitals. Some types of genital HPV are linked to abnormal cell changes on the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. Fortunately, this type of cancer can usually be prevented through regular screening and, if needed, treatment of abnormal cell changes.
Approximately 14 million new cases of sexually transmitted HPV occur in the U.S. each year, with at least 79 million people estimated to be currently infected. Most people with HPV, though, do not know that they are infected. HPV vaccines are available and can help prevent infection from both high risk HPV types that can lead to cervical cancer and low risk types that cause genital warts.
HIV/AIDS
According to data collected by the CDC, the estimated number of AIDS cases increased 15 percent among women between 1999 and 2003. HIV/AIDS symptoms include extreme tiredness, fevers and night sweats, continual infections, diarrhea, rapid weight loss, oral and vaginal yeast infections, menstrual cycle changes, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), swollen glands; coughing and/or blotches on the skin or inside the nose, mouth, or eyelids.
Syphilis
While syphilis is typically easy to treat in its early stages with a course of antibiotics, it can definitely create some significant damage if left unchecked. If syphilis is not treated early on, the effects of late stage syphilis can range from eventual blindness to paralysis and dementia and finally to death. Syphilis, in its early stages, may not impair a woman’s ability to get pregnant, however it can be devastating to the children born of infected women.
STDs Are Preventable
According to the American Sexual Health Association and The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there are a number of ways to reduce your risk of developing a sexually transmitted disease. Consider the following:
- Have a mutually monogamous sexual relationship with an uninfected partner
- Use a male condom (correctly and consistently)
- Learn the symptoms of STDs and seek medical help as soon as possible, if any symptoms develop
- Decrease susceptibility to HIV infections by preventing and controlling other STDs
- Delay having sexual relationships as long as possible – the younger a person is when they begin to have sex for the first time, the more susceptible they become to developing an STD
- Use sterile needles if injecting intravenous drugs
- Have regular checkups for STDs
If you have not been successful in your attempts to conceive, especially if you have been experiencing any of the possible symptoms of an STD, consider seeking more specialized assistance at an infertility clinic. The infertility specialists and staff at the Center of Reproductive Medicine, serving Houston and the surrounding areas of Beaumont and Webster, are well known for their high level of success in helping couples to conceive. At CORM, our professional staff is committed to providing the highest quality reproductive medicine and care for each patient.