Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may impair fertility due the damage they cause to the reproductive system. Because STDs are very prevalent, it is important to understand how they are transmitted, how they affect fertility and how to prevent their spread. Infertility can sometimes be the result of ongoing sexually transmitted infections or previously resolved infections that damaged your reproductive system.

If you plan on trying to become pregnant, get tested for sexually transmitted diseases regularly, in order to prevent further fertility troubles or the spread of disease.

What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)?

STDs are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. They can cause a host of unpleasant side effects, ranging from itching to painful intercourse; some are very serious and may even be life-threatening.

Thousands of people are infected with an STD each year, with the highest rate of infection in young men and women, aged 15 to 25.

Transmission of STDs

STDs are most often transmitted through sexual intercourse, however, some are transmitted through other types of sexual contact or contact with body fluids. The modes of transmission include: vaginal or anal intercourse, oral sex, contact with skin lesions or cuts, contact with body fluids such as semen or urine, sharing unprotected sex toys and sharing intravenous needles. Obviously, if fluid and skin contact can be avoided, then disease transmission can be avoided. Unfortunately, no barrier method is completely effective all the time. In general, proper use of condoms provides the best practical way of minimizing disease transmission. Condoms are not perfect, however, and a healthy dose of common sense is also a valuable skill for avoiding disease.

Types of STDs

There are many different types of STDs, including Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, herpes, genital warts, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and scabies (pubic lice, "crabs").

STD Myths

Myths about STDs arise for many reasons: there are stigma surrounding contraction and rumors abound about how they’re transmitted; other times myths arise for lack of knowledge or misinformation about the infection. When it comes to STDs, the leading myths include:

 

• You must have sexual intercourse to get an STD
• Certain people are naturally protected from STDs
• If you are clean and well-groomed, you won’t get an STD
• You can easily tell if someone has an STD
• STDs are easily treatable

It is important to realize that all these myths are false. Anyone can catch an STD, no matter where they live or what they look like; you can't always tell if someone has an STD, because symptoms are often invisible; and many STDs are not easy to treat; in fact, some have no cure.

This is why it is important to educate yourself about STDs and to always follow safe sex practices. If you or your loved one has had an STD it may be beneficial to be evaluated for infertility before trying to get pregnant to ensure your reproductive system is in good health for conception and pregnancy.

STDs and Infertility

Some STDs have serious effects on your reproductive system, especially if they are undiagnosed and untreated. Because many STDs cause only minor symptoms, many infected men and women do know they are infected and are, therefore, not treated. As a result, a large number of people suffer the effects of STD-induced infertility without knowing they’re affected. The STDs that cause the most female infertility are chlamydia and gonorrhea (GC). Full-blown infections with either of these bacteria cause what is called Pelvic Inflammatory disease (PID). The symptoms of PID are fever, pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, and plain old "feeling terrible." Gonorrhea -- in men and women -- generally causes symptoms that are hard to miss and hard to ignore. Chlamydia, on the other hand, is frequently rather quiet and it can smolder for long periods of time before (or if ever) coming to the attention of the infected person. Men and women usually have only mild pain or discharge, and usually only develop pain once the infection becomes rather advanced and other bacteria start to join the infection. Although chlamydia generally causes no lasting damage in men, it can cause lasting and permanent damage to the female reproductive system, especially the fallopian tubes. Even if the woman's tubes stay open, their linings become scarred and damaged and may lose much of their ability to move the eggs and embryos through them. Women who have had a chlamydia or GC infection are at much higher risk of having an ectopic pregnancy (EP) once the active infection has passed. An EP happens when an embryo sticks and grows in the fallopian tube. This is a potentially life-threatening condition.

Men will usually will exhibit symptoms soon after an STD infection. For the most part, this means men are more likely to seek treatment, and will do so in time to prevent damage to their fertility. However, this is not always the case as some infections cause problems later, after treatment. For example, each year 500,000 men develop a condition known as epididymitis as a result of an STD infection. Epididymitis causes inflammation in one of the vessels which transports semen from the testicles and can cause a complete blockage, leaving the man infertile. Fortunately, complete blockage of the male reproductive system is rather rare.