Sexually transmitted diseases that can undermine fertility

When you want a child and it doesn’t arrive despite all your attempts, you start looking for the reasons and this can be a long and sometimes painful journey.

There are many causes of infertility : genetic, hormonal, physical, etc. which are beyond our control. Others, however, can be avoided.

For example, an important factor of infertility concerns sexually transmitted diseases.

There is a sharp increase in the reports of cases of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea and most of the women who have been in contact with these pathogens do not show any symptoms. This combined with the fact that almost half of men have never had a diagnostic test for sexually transmitted diseases, makes these diseases one of the main causes of infertility.

Many women don’t even realize they’ve been infected with these bacteria until they start looking for a baby.

How to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases?

Health centers recommend safe sex (every time without exception) and regular screening for all women of childbearing age.

In the meantime, however, it is good to keep yourself informed also to be able to prevent any problems

Below is a brief summary of sexually transmitted diseases that can harm fertility:

1. Chlamydia

Despite the “gentle” name, Chlamydia is not a benign beating. It is in fact (together with gonorrhea) one of the first causes of pelvic inflammatory disease, a pathology that doubles the risk of infertility. Along with pelvic inflammatory disease, chlamydia can cause silent infections in the upper genital tract, which can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and other reproductive organs, resulting in infertility.

Symptoms of chlamydia can include pelvic pain and abnormal spotting or discharge. However, most people do not show any signs of the disease. It is successfully treated with antibiotics.

2. Gonorrhea

Like chlamydia, gonorrhea has reached epidemic proportions worldwide and is a major cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and, consequently, infertility. It can cause adhesions that block the fallopian tubes which increase the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy  (which can be dangerous for the mother and is always fatal for the baby). It also increases the risk of contracting HIV. If you are pregnant, the disease can pass to the baby.

Symptoms of gonorrhea can include vaginal discharge, pain when urinating, and spotting. However, most women do not show any symptoms.

The infection can occur in the vagina, anus and/or throat. In the past, gonorrhea was treated with antibiotics, but now the bacterium has developed resistance to almost every drug commonly used for treatment. Drug-resistant gonorrhea is currently a major health problem.

3. Herpes

Herpes is one of the most common viruses in the world. It is responsible for a series of pathologies, from cold sores to warts. Among them, genital herpes can affect fertility. In fact, it can cause early abortions and preterm birth. It can also be passed on to the baby during delivery, resulting in a potentially very serious disease called neonatal herpes.

According to the Health Centers most people with genital herpes do not show any symptoms. However, when it causes visible symptoms such as painful sores or blisters that usually appear cyclically, it is often mistaken for other skin conditions.

There is no cure for herpes, but symptoms can be managed with herpes medications.

4. Syphilis

Although it was almost eradicated with the advent of antibiotics, syphilis has started to show itself with a doubling of cases in the last five years. It reappeared especially among young women with growth rates of 23%. The disease is highly contagious and can have several serious long-term health complications, including infertility. It can cause perintal death and can be transmitted to newborns during delivery.

This disease is nicknamed “the mimic grain”. Indeed, its symptoms, especially those in the early stage, are quite varied and mimic many other diseases. If left untreated, it can infect almost any part of the body, including the eyes and brain, and lead to death (if left untreated). Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, but they work best if diagnosed promptly.

5. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV is the virus that leads to AIDS, perhaps the scariest disease of our modern age. Thanks to medical advances, it is no longer a certain death sentence as it was a few years ago, but affects the person’s health, including their fertility. The virus can reduce the production of estrogen and progesterone and stop menstrual cycles, which makes it much more difficult to get pregnant. Additionally, the medications used to manage the disease can have serious side effects on the pregnancy and baby. It’s also possible (although not yet certain) to pass the disease on to your child.

In the early stages of the disease there are no symptoms. When it begins to manifest itself it is often mistaken for a bad cold or the flu before progressing to a variety of medical conditions.

It is therefore impossible to understand that he has been infected by the symptoms. The only way to understand if you have been infected is to undergo tests regularly (obviously if there are reasons for risk: transfusions, relationships with people at risk, etc.).

There is no definitive cure for HIV/AIDS, although symptoms can be managed with medication.