There are a lot of dangers to contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD): your health can be adversely affected by the disease; there is a social stigma to STD carriers and of course, your fertility may be put at risk by your STD. As a matter of fact, it has been reported that as many as one quarter of all infertility cases are caused by a previous STD.
The American Social Health Association itself reports that 15 percent of infertile women can link STD-induced tubal damage caused by pelvic inflammatory disease as the direct cause of their infertility.
Not every Sexually Transmitted Disease will affect your ability to become pregnant or carry a baby to full term – but some can. Men too must be careful to discuss the implications of their own STD exposure when it comes to their sperm’s viability.
Herpes
In most cases, the Herpes virus does not affect either a woman or a man’s ability to have a baby. Affecting the genital area, the biggest detriment that herpes will have on a couple’s fertility is the need to abstain from intercourse during an outbreak in either partner. This can limit their chances of conceiving depending on how long the outbreak is and how often they experience them.
If a woman experiences a herpes outbreak in the latter stages of pregnancy, her doctor may suggest a C-section to ensure that the virus is not spread to the baby during delivery; although this is rare since a mother with herpes will give her baby antibodies against the disease during the gestational period.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia may be the most ruthless of the STD’s when it comes to causing fertility trouble. More than 40% of untreated Chlamydia infections cause inflammation of the fallopian tubes which can leave scarring and block the fallopian tubes. Women with the disease need to be honest with their doctors to prevent permanent damage to their reproductive systems. If you have had chlamydia or scarring due to an STD make sure to read our guide to blocked fallopian tubes for some natural therapies that may help.
It is estimated that more than a million new cases of Chlamydia are reported in the U.S., alone each year, with double that number actually being infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Trichomoniasis
Is a parasite that is an STD, but besides painful symptoms and copious discharge, in itself it does not cause infertility but because it is often transmitted at the same time as chlamydia and gonorrhea, it is linked to tubal infections.
Gonorrhea
In women, Gonorrhea can cause bleeding after sex and yellow or bloody vaginal discharge which can inflame the pelvic area, causing epididymitis, which can hamper conception.
The Effect of STD’s on Men’s Fertility
Although more research is needed in this area, initial reports show little effects on a man’s fertility, unless the sperm comes in direct contact with the STD infection. In this case, the sperm may be damaged. But most research indicates that STD’s do not affect a man’s sperm count or mobility.
Since women tend to be at the most fertility risk when it comes to STD’s most doctors agree that a pre-conception STD test is essential to check for undiagnosed STD’s from the past and to see if any unknown damage could impede the woman’s chance of getting pregnant.
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/std/
- Institute of Human Nutrition. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/ihn/
- Online Health Forum of Medical Questions Answered Free – eHealth Forum. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://ehealthforum.com/
- Health Information Organization Home Page – pain, nutrition, pregnancy, homeopathy, infertility, acupuncture, traditional chinese medicine, menopause, Men’s Health, male reproductive health, andrology, chinese herbal medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.health-info.org/
- American Sexual Health Association- ASHA Herpes Resource Center (n.d.).Retrieved from: http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/stdsstis/herpes/
