How STIs Affect Your Fertility

When you’re sexually active, it’s essential to practice safe-sex habits and get tested regularly for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 

Unfortunately, many common and potentially dangerous STIs don’t often present with symptoms, especially in women. Two of these are chlamydia and gonorrhea, which can wreak havoc on your body without you realizing you have an infection.

Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea can travel to your reproductive organs and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a common cause of female infertility. 

At Enrich Health and Wellness in Boerne, Texas, Maria Cole, APRN, FNP-C, and our team are committed to educating our patients on the impact that untreated STIs can have on fertility. 

In this month’s blog, we discuss how STIs affect fertility in hopes that you prioritize safe-sex practices and schedule regular STI screenings. 

Chlamydia and gonorrhea

Many STIs can impact your fertility, with chlamydia and gonorrhea two of the most common.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection contracted through unprotected sexual contact. Up to 75% of women who develop chlamydia don’t present with symptoms. If you do show symptoms, they can include unusual vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, or burning sensations while peeing. 

Gonorrhea 

Gonorrhea, also a bacterial infection, is transmitted through genital fluids, which can happen during unprotected vaginal sex. Most women with gonorrhea don’t have symptoms, but possible symptoms are unusual vaginal discharge and painful urination. 

STIs, PID, and infertility

If you go several weeks without realizing you’ve contracted chlamydia or gonorrhea, the bacteria can move past your vagina, through your cervix, and into your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, leading to inflammation and infection. That means you have PID. 

Long-term damage to the reproductive organs by PID leads to infertility issues; in 90% of PID cases, chlamydia or gonorrhea is the root cause. The infection can generate significant scar tissue, especially in your fallopian tubes, making it impossible to release eggs. 

Addressing STIs to protect your fertility 

If you have multiple sexual partners, you must use a barrier form of birth control, specifically external or internal condoms. They can protect you from the bacteria that threaten to infect your reproductive organs without your knowledge. 

You (and your sexual partners) also need regular STI screenings. Since these infections can cause so much damage with no warning symptoms, you must get tested to catch them in time. 

Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics. 

To schedule an STI screening or discuss any of our infertility services, call our office or use our online booking feature today.