Sexual Diseases & Fertility

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not often discussed in the context of one of their possible consequences: infertility. Great societal stigma has been assigned to these various infectious diseases which are transmitted primarily through sexual or blood contact. Because of this stigma, many women may actually go throughout their lives never knowing they have contracted such a disease until it is too late.

The rapid, epidemic transmission of genital herpes a few decades ago had one positive result -- many people learned that even "nice, clean" people can be infected by an STD. I refer to this as positive because those people then, hopefully, learned about their bodies and took the necessary precautions to avoid further transmission, rather than continuing to look the other way and live in denial of their infection. Unfortunately, however, this more open way of dealing with STDs came to a standstill yet again with the advance of HIV. Now, many are coming to terms with the trademark slogan of HIV activists: "Silence equals death."

For many who have come into contact with an STD, and particularly those who do not yet know that they have been infected, silence may equal infertility and other debilitating health effects. Depending on the specific disease, the amount of time between initial infection and treatment, and the overall health of the infected individual, diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papilloma virus, herpes simplex, hepatitis B, and others can permanently alter one's life in sometimes dramatic and tragic ways.

What can be done? First, we must continue to fight the senseless stigma which these diseases carry. If you think that you are unaffected by such societal forces, ask yourself "would I feel as comfortable asking my doctor for a chlamydia test as I do asking for a strep throat culture?" Many health practitioners, unfortunately, still maintain that only certain high-risk groups of people, those who have certain lifestyles or behaviors, warrant screening for STDs. What this means is that many of you who are reading this have never been approached by your doctor or midwife about being tested.

Any woman who is trying to conceive should ask her practitioner for a screen of the major STDs, optimally prior to conception. Women (and men) who are experiencing difficulty conceiving should consider STD screening a routine part of their diagnostic period. Practitioners would do well to avoid some of those discomforting questions about you and your partner's sexual pasts by simply running the same tests on every patient, regardless of socioeconomic status, other demographics, and perception.

Last, and perhaps most importantly, teach your children about STDs. Be an advocate for education. Wouldn't it be grand to be able to say that we've sent some STDs the way of the eradicated smallpox? It can only happen through frank and open discussion.

Labels: Pregnancy health, Pregnant and Sex