Sexually Transmitted Diseases can cause infertility

Avoiding Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), besides from avoiding pregnancy, is the main reason why it is recommended to practice safe sex. There are several consequences of having STD, in some cases even causing fertility problems in future. Affectation in women can be double; there is a possibility that bacteria locate in mucus produced by cervix and causing reduced motility of spermatozoa, or permeability and functionality of the fallopian tubes may also be affected. In men, which are not exempt from possible future problems, microorganisms can attach to sperm, affecting its quality and quantity.
Among sexually transmitted diseases, which cause a higher rate of infertility are chlamydia, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, and gonorrhoea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Both can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and consequently damage fallopian tubes, which represents 35% of infertility causes, also multiplying chances of suffering an ectopic pregnancy.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can also affect

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is another infection that can lead to difficulties in conceiving children. In this case, we must bear in mind that in many cases the immune system itself is able to overcome the infection after few months or few years. When the damage is extensive, cervical mucus production may be affected.
HIV, or AIDS, apart from the effects known for everybody, is another disease that can impact significantly sterility. In the female cases, it causes an increased risk of cervical abnormalities or early menopause, while in men it has detected the presence of orchitis (inflammation of the testicles), hypogonadism (decreased production of hormones), oligozoospermia or azoospermia (decrease or absence of sperm in semen).
Sometimes the symptoms of these diseases take more time to appear, although there are symptoms like vaginal odour or pelvic pain, which should wake up warning signs, so we recommend very strongly to make annual gynaecological examinations.

The consequences can be very serious and force to undergo IVF in order to have children. Besides sometimes, if the woman becomes pregnant, she can transmit the infection to her baby during vaginal childbirth. For these reasons, we also believe receiving psychological support we offer in Institut Marquès can help the patient.