If you’ve been trying to conceive and haven’t been successful, consider being tested for sexually transmitted diseases. STDs can affect your ability to get pregnant. According to the Centers for Disease Control, chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most preventable causes of infertility.
So, how common are STDs and should you really worry that you could have one? Well, the first answer is very common. CDC statistics are pretty scary for these two STDs. There are about 2.8 million new cases of chlamydia every year in the United States. In addition, there are 718,000 new cases of gonorrhea.
Keep in mind that these are confirmed cases. These two diseases are the most under diagnosed of all STDs. The reason is that both can be silently damaging your ability to have a baby. Many women show no symptoms at all. For this reason, the CDC now recommends routine testing for all women over the age of 25.
While a woman is going about her life, completely unaware she has contracted one of these STDs, damage is being done. Ultimately, forty percent of these women will develop pelvic inflammatory disease as a result of the infection. PID causes scar tissue and greatly increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
This is a fertility problem that is gaining world wide attention. The World Health Organization estimates that about 38 percent of all infertility is a direct result of untreated sexually transmitted disease. If the infection results in PID, her risk of infertility is five times greater than if the infection had been treated in the early stages.
When you go for your initial infertility testing, you may want to be checked for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Even if the infection was contracted years ago, it’s important to treat it as soon as possible. This will preserve your fertility and increase your chances of conceiving and carrying a healthy baby.
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