Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Fertility

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Sexually transmitted diseases are a common cause of fertility issues. Many STDs have mild symptoms, but their affects on conception, and on a fetus fetus if pregnancy is achieved, are hardly mild at all.


Treatment for these diseases is usually simple, and of course, it is always better to diagnose and treat a problem before pregnancy than during pregnancy.


Take a look below at the information we've compiled on common STDs that have a severe impact on your pregnancy plans, and our recommendation for a pregnancy planing check-up requisite for both partners.

Pregnancy-Planning Health Check-up

We recommend all couples who wish to have a baby undergo the following health check-ups:

• - STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) test

• -Vaccination status checked and updated

• -Smear Test performed by your gynecologist

• - Breast Cancer (and other forms of cancer) exams

• - HIV test

• - Overall medical history of both partners

Typical Symptoms of STDs for Women

• - Itching, sores, tenderness or pain in the vagina

• - Abnormal vaginal discharge which has an unusual smell or color

• - Pain when urinating

• - Pain in the lower abdomen

• - Discomfort during sexual intercourse

• - Abnormal bleeding

• - Lumps or sores in the genital area

Typical Symptoms of STDs for Men

• - Discharge from the penis

• - Sores in the genital area

• - Frequent need to urinate and pain when urinating

• - Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area

• - Pain in the testicles or in the prostate

Chlamydia - The Hidden Dangers

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that often goes unnoticed because of its mild systems. For those looking to become pregnant however, Chlamydia is a ticking time bomb. If the infection goes untreated for an extended period of time, 10-40% of women will develop pelvic inflammation. Pelvic inflammation is the cause of numerous fertility and pregnancy related issues.


If chlamydia infection goes untreated, it can spread to the higher reproductive organs including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The untreated chlamydia infection can also trigger an inflammation of the neck of the uterus resulting in an impaired the uterine lining causing serious fertility issues.


Women infected with chlamydia face an increased risk of miscarrying, developing an ectopic pregnancy, or experiencing premature water-break (amniotic fluid surrounding the unborn child). A study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development concludes that pregnant women who are infected with chlamydia are two to three times more likely to experience a miscarriage.



As many as one in ten men are infected with chlamydia, and are also at risk for decreased fertility. The infection can often spread to the testicles causing a decrease in the quality and quantity of the sperm. Low sperm count makes conception much less likely, and the compromised quality of the DNA within the sperm can cause problems with the development of a fetus. A man infected with chlamydia is also at risk of unknowingly passing the infection to his partner.


Cyclotest now offers a home testing kit that enables you to discreetly test for Chlamydia in the privacy of your own home. Everything you need to get results is included in the kit with no need to mail in messy lab samples or wait for results. The Cyclotest chlamydia home testing kit delivers results within minutes, so you can start treatment immediately. If you are currently trying to conceive, this knowledge is indispensable.

Gonorrhoea and Fertility

If untreated, gonorrhoea can result in pelvic inflammatory disease and the closing of the fallopian. It can compromises fertility and increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

Yeast Infections and Fertility

Although candida, or yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, it significantly impairs cervical mucus and can therefore affect fertilely. Yeast infections can also prevent you from becoming pregnant simply because they cause sex to be painful, which takes away your desire to have sex. If you experience a burning or itching sensation in the vagina or a white clumpy discharge, make sure to speak to your doctor.


It is important that you get a yeast infection treated before or during pregnancy because your baby can become infected during delivery while passing through the birth canal causing significant and painful diaper rash and oral thrush that often results in difficulties breast-feeding. The vaginal secretions of pregnant women encourage the growth of yeast, therefore infections are quite common during pregnancy.



Yeast infections develop when the yeast that occurs naturally in our bodies becomes too plentiful. An unhealthy growth of candida albicans, or yeast, may occur if you eat foods with a very high sugar content. To avoid contracting a yeast infection, modify your eating habits by avoiding refined sugar and adding live bacteria that helps restore the natural balance of intestinal flora such as that found in live yogurt.


Antibiotics are usually used to combat yeast infections because they easy to take and very effective in eliminating the problem. But although antibiotics are safe, treating the infection naturally, especially during pregnancy, is an even better approach. Probiotic food supplements containing the bacterias acidophiles and bifidobacterium are ideal for warding off yeast infections. Another natural anti-fungal agent is garlic.


To prevent fungal infections, avoid wearing tight-fitting jeans, synthetic underwear, or unnecessary panty-liners. The washing cycles of modern low-temperature washing machines fails to kill off Candida albican spores completely so you may become re-infected by your own underwear. Try increasing the temperature of your washing cycle, or adding a laundry disinfectant to your rinse cycle. It is also a good idea to avoid foods with high sugar contents such as candy, cakes, processed foods, fizzy drinks and alcohol.

Antibiotics and Fertility

Antibiotics taken to treat an infection are necessary to destroy harmful bacteria but can also wipe out beneficial bacteria from the body. This in turn can cause other imbalances, such as fungal infections. To avoid these complications, it is advisable to take a probiotic food supplements with different strains of beneficial bacteria for three months after your antibiotic treatment. Avoid probiotic drinks as they often contain a lot of sugar and end up aiding the fungus in the body.

Importance of Examinations

STDs often go unnoticed and therefore regular examinations are important in order to diagnose and treat the disease as soon as possible. It is especially important to be diagnoses before becoming pregnant as treating STDs during pregnancy can often be much more difficult.

Check out the original article here: http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/sexually-transmitted-diseases-and-fertility