How Do STDs Interfere With Female Fertility?

Finding out that you have a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) or Disease  (STD) can come as a huge shock. It can lead to anger, self-blame, fear or stress. Some of the questions you might ask yourself are whether the infection is curable and how it will affect your life. As a woman who is planning to have children in future, you might be worried as to whether STDs can cause infertility.

The reality is that an STD can interfere with your fertility. Depending on how soon it is detected and how well it is treated, it can lead to some complications.

How STDs Can Cause Infertility

If left untreated or if not treated in time, the infection can spread to the Fallopian tubes and uterus. This can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which causes inflammation, scarring and blockage in the reproductive organs. The scarring on the tubes prevents sperm from reaching the eggs. It also prevents the eggs from moving from through the Fallopian tubes to the uterus. This can lead to an ectopic pregnancy.  If not detected in time, this can put the life of the pregnant mother in danger.

Screening for STDs

It is advisable for sexually active women of childbearing age to regularly screen for STIs and STDs. If you have multiple sex partners or a new sex partner, you should also get screened at least once a year. You can carry out STD testing at home using an STD test kit from myLAB Box.

In case you have an STD, make sure that your partner also gets tested and treated. You can discreetly carry out an STD test at home and fertility tests, if you are having difficulty conceiving.

Some of the fertility tests you can carry out include the Female Fertility Test, Ovarian Reserve Test and the Ovulation Confirmation Test. 

Which STDs Can Cause Infertility?

• Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is widely associated with infertility. This is because it causes inflammation of the Fallopian tubes. Unfortunately, most women are mostly asymptomatic, when they have this disease, so it often goes unnoticed and untreated. That is why it is important to take advantage of online STD testing from myLAB Box, especially if you are embarrassed about having to go to a doctor to get tested. 

• Chlamydia

Chlamydia affects over 1.4 million women in the US every year. This disease causes swellings on the Fallopian tubes, which can consequently cause blockage preventing the egg from moving along the tube into the uterus. This is known as tubal infertility. Chlamydia is responsible for causing half the causes of tubal infertility in the developed world. Chlamydia can also cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to infertility.

Since most women do not experience symptoms when they have this disease, getting tested from time to time is essential. Use an Online STD test from myLAB Box to test for this disease. Fortunately, Chlamydia can be cured using antibiotics. That is why regular testing and getting treatment early is crucial.

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is one of the most common STDs among women. HPV is a group of 150 viruses, some of which can cause cancer in the reproductive organs. A lot of women do not show any symptoms when they have this virus. That is why it is vital to schedule regular screenings. Early detection of the disease reduces the risk of it developing into cancer of the cervix or vulva, which can cause infertility.  Get an STD testing kit from myLAB Box to test for this disease.

• HIV

HIV can complicate the process of trying to have children. It can also affect how the reproductive organs function consequently, leading to infertility. In addition, since it is possible for an infected mother to pass on HIV to an unborn child, it is important to use home blood test kits to find out whether you are infected. If the test is positive, measures can be taken to prevent mother to child transmission of the disease.

Why Carry Out STD Lab Testing?

Infertility caused by STDs is one of the most preventable things.  This is because STIs can be tested and treated. You don’t even have to go to the doctor’s office, as you can get an STD testing kit and do home STD testing. By getting treated as soon as possible, you will prevent damage to your reproductive organs, which can lead to infertility.

Even a single episode of PID can cause irreversible damage and lead to infertility. That is why you should be vigilant, especially if you have suffered from multiple cases of PID. Carry out STI and STD screenings regularly. This should not be that hard to do, given the convenience that home blood test kits offer. Having at least three cases of PID increases your infertility risk by 50%.

Once your tubes get damaged, then your best chance of getting pregnant is through in vitro fertilization. This treatment method bypasses the scarred Fallopian tubes, as fertilization is done in the lab and the embryo is then transferred into the woman’s uterus.

Since some STDs can be asymptomatic and in some cases PID may present itself with mild symptoms, you might not even be aware that you are infected. That is why STD lab testing is your first line of defense when it comes to fighting STDs.

Conclusion

If you are a woman who wants children, be proactive about your health and about preserving your fertility. Take action now! Take advantage of home STD tests from myLAB Box and get tested frequently to know your health status. Get treated immediately in case you test positive. The earlier STDs are detected and treated, the less the chances that they will cause infertility in a woman.

Getting infected with an STD does not necessarily mean that you will become infertile. This is especially not the case if the disease is detected and treated appropriately. Infertility usually comes about as a result of the disease not being detected or treated over a long period of time. This leads to damage of the reproductive organs. That is why home STD testing and knowing how to cure STD at home is important.