Title: Pathology: Histology: Pap Smear Description: Human pap smear showing clamydia in the vacuoles at 500x and stained with H&E. Subjects (names): Topics/Categories: Pathology -- Histology Type: Color Slide Source: Dr. Lance Liotta Laboratory Author: Unknown photographer/artist AV Number: AV-8803-3302 Date Created: March 1988 Date Entered: 1/1/2001 Access: Public (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In this article we will look at STD Symptoms in Men and Women. Whilst an STD infection is bad in many ways for your direct health, many people do not realize the major impact that some STD infections can have on your fertility. These range from mild interference with the reproductive systems to full on infertility.
Of course Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Fertility are quite a significant health problem in society in themselves, but often the impact on fertility is overlooked or unknown. In this article we will discuss the most common types of sexually transmitted disease and the impact that can have on fertility and what can be done to overcome this problem. (Note: we will abbreviate Sexually Transmitted Disease to STD in this article)
There are many organs and biological systems that make up the process of successful fertilization. The infection, or your bodies’ response to the infection, can cause problems with the organs and tissues that compromise the reproductive system.
Of course it may be embarrassing to bring up the issue of any STD infections you have, or previously have had, but it is vitally important when seeking fertility advice that you should tell all to your physicians and healthcare professionals that are helping you to resolve a fertility problem.
Below we shall look at the 4 most common sexually transmitted diseases that can cause problems with fertility in men and women.
Chlamydia:
This is the most common STD in the USA and UK and there is an even higher incidence in Africa and parts of Asia.
Caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
Chlamydia Symptoms
25% of people may have a slight discharge or stinging when passing urine. It is often described as a “silent disease” as it often shows no symptoms in as many as 75% of women and 50% of men.
Where symptoms are evident, women suffer pain in the lower abdomen and /or a milky or yellow discharge, spotting between periods, pain during sex. In men symptoms are stinging or discomfort on passing urine.
Chlamydia Treatment and issues arising if untreated
A course of antibiotic is the usual treatment. Ideally the treatment and monitoring should be by a proper STD clinic. A re-test 3-4 months after treatment should also be followed up. The Chlamydia infection is quite an easy infection to treat successfully with antibiotics.
It is important to treat both partners. Re-infection by an untreated partner is common hence the importance of ensuring that both parties are treated.
Problems arising from non treatment or late treatment include: Ectopic pregnancy, premature babies or sickly babies. Babies born to infected mothers may suffer eye, ear, genital and lung infections. In severe cases blindness of baby can result.
As many as 40% of women with untreated Chlamydia will get Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). It is this that is most danger to a woman’s fertility. There is also a greatly increased risk of getting the HIV infection after Chlamydia infection if exposed to a HIV infected partner.
Be alert to the signs from your body that there is a problem and seek medical help sooner rather than later! It is recommended that annual screening be done for all sexually active women and women with new sex partners or multiple partners.
Gonorrhoea:
This is also a very common infection today and 2nd to Chlamydia in the league table of STD infections. It is commonly found to propagate in the mucous areas of the body, so the genital tract including the vagina and penis as well as the rectum and throat are typical sites of infection.
Gonorrhea Symptoms:
As many as 80% or women and 15% of men report no symptoms at all in the early stages. In women, bleeding between periods, a yellow or bloody discharge, heavy periods, lower abdominal pain, pain with intercourse or bleeding after intercourse are symptomatic. In men, a creamy or green discharge from the pemis, burning on urination and pain in the testicles are all symptomatic.
Gonorrhea Treatment and issues arising if untreated
Treatment with antibiotics is the standard treatment for Gonorrhea. In men, the untreated or late treated may suffer irreversible damage to the testicles and be left sterile. In women the risk is that the fallopian tubes may be infected and in the resultant body response to clear the infection, the fallopian tubes are left with scar tissue or damage to the cilia which can then make normal fertilization difficult or impossible by natural means.
Be alert to the signs from your body that there is a problem and seek medical help sooner rather than later!
Syphilis:
Caused by the bacterium treponema palladium.
Syphilis Symptoms:
The early symptoms of syphilis are often very mild and this is what makes it so dangerous, as medical treatment is not sought when first infected. Later secondary symptoms include a rash and red lesions that may be anywhere on the body. Swollen glands and fever as well as warts and other lumps are also part of the general signs of progressive infection.
Syphilis Treatment and issues arising if untreated
Treatment with antibiotics is the standard treatment for Syphilis. In men and women the risk is not so much to fertility as Syphilis has not been shown to be implicated in infertility, however, untreated there is a high and serious risk to your health. As the disease progresses it affects the major organs of the heart, the brain, the eyes, and the nervous system. It is a killer disease and never goes away of its own accord – only antibiotic treatment will cure this infection.
STD Symptoms in Men and Women are keys to be alert for and immediate treatment must be sought to prevent infertility. Sexually transmitted diseases affect fertility in many way as we have seen in this article. You should be alert to the signs from your body that there is a problem and seek medical help sooner rather than later!
