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Archive for the ‘STDs’ Category

Could You Have an STD?

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Sexually transmitted diseases may not be discussed much among adults, but they’ve slowly crept into medical charts of the over 25-year-old population. Though gonorrhea diagnoses have lowered over the past several years, cases of chlamydia are on the rise. And that’s a cause for alarm among women and men who want to have children.

STDs like chlamydia have been known to cause infertility in both males and females. Whether complete or partial infertility, they are “hidden” causes. That’s because, surprisingly, many STDs have no (or very few) warning signs or symptoms.

So what can you do to protect yourself? There are several options:

  1. Don’t have sex with any partners who have not been screened for STDs.
  2. Always wear protection during any sexual intercourse and either abstain from oral sex or use protection during those acts as well.
  3. If you have had unprotected sex, get tested.

While it’s understandable that you may feel embarrassed to talk about STDs with your primary physician or fertility specialist, it’s necessary to remove the possibility that your infertility may be exacerbated by an undiagnosed condition such as chlamydia.

And be assured that reputable fertility clinics, like the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) on the outskirts of Philadelphia, are staffed with trained professionals who pass no judgment and only want to help you achieve your health goals.

 

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New Strain of Gonorrhea Could Affect Fertility Even More

Monday, July 18th, 2011

A new strain of gonorrhea that’s resistant to traditionally-used antibiotics could have widespread implications when it comes to fertility. And this development is concerning physicians and scientists around the world.

The “superbug” (as the media has been dubbing it) strain was first found in Japan and is classified as H041. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has even jumped on the bandwagon, issuing a warning that includes the serious admonition:

“While antibiotics can successfully treat gonorrhea, over time the bacteria has developed resistance to several of these drugs … CDC now recommends only one class of antibiotics, called cephalosporins .. however, findings from the recent analysis signal the potential for resistance to cephalosporins, the last line of defense for treating gonorrhea.”

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in general have long been causes for infertility (temporary or permanent) in both males and females, but gonorrhea has, until now, shown itself to be curable. However, if the new H041 strain enters into the population in earnest, issues faced by couples today and in the future could become more problematic.

To protect yourself from gonorrhea and other fertility-stealing STDs, it’s important to:

1. Always use protection, even during oral sex.

2. Get yourself tested if you (or your partner) have had more than one sexual partner in your lifetime.

3. Contact your doctor or fertility specialist immediately ff you think you may have been exposed to an STD.

Remember – it may seem embarrassing to admit to having an STD, but it won’t go away on its own. Thus, it’s up to you to take care of your health, for your – and your fertility’s – sake.

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When Missteps Made in Younger Years Affect Fertility

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Could the decisions you make as a teen or young adult affect your fertility in later years?  Absolutely, especially if you contract one of the many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that are rampant in the United States and abroad.

STDs may not be discussed in everyday circles; in fact, they are often relegated to a health education class or two.  However, they can be (often silent) contributing factors to fertility difficulties in both men and women.

“I’d know if I had an STD!” people regularly say, affronted by the notion that they could possibly be carrying a condition that causes them to be unable to conceive a child.  Yet many STDs do not carry any (or many) symptoms.  In plenty of cases, men and women have no idea that they’ve had an STD for years until they come to a fertility specialist (like those at the Philadelphia area’s RSI clinic) and are tested as a part of routine examination.

This is why it’s so important for you to face facts.  If you OR your sexual partner have ever engaged in any type of sexual activity (oral sex included) with another individual, you owe it to yourselves to get tested for STDs.  Even if you’ve been together for many years, it’s critical for you to know.  After all, many STDs can be either controlled or eliminated, but if you don’t know you have the problem, you cannot solve it.

Certainly, it’s a difficult topic to bring up, but if you’re having fertility issues, it’s worth knowing the answer to the question.

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Sweden Launches Chlamydia Monday in Effort to Raise Awareness

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

As we’ve written about before at our blog, chlamydia can be one of the contributors to infertility or fertility issues.  A very common STD with nasty long-term side effects, chlamydia is difficult to pinpoint unless men or women get tested.

This is why the Swedish have announced “Chlamydia Mondays”, a new PR program that’s a bit “out there” (it features outlandish cartoons to get the point across) but which the government hopes will resonate with the 4-per-hour-adults who are contracting chlamydia in the country.

So how do you know if you have chlamydia?  Many people have no clue they’re carrying the disease, as it masks itself well.  So if you’ve been having trouble getting pregnant and your physician has ruled out other possibilities but hasn’t tested you or your partner for chlamydia, it’s worth a look.

If nothing else, you’ll know if you are putting your partner at risk and you’ll also be able to get healthier.

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  • STDs and Infertility

    Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

    The CDC has recognized April as “STD Awareness Month” and encourages all adults to get themselves tested.

    Many STDs are “silent”, remaining hidden until they are later uncovered quite unexpectedly.  For example, in the case of many couples, the realization of infertility leads to a discovery of an STD in one (or both) partners.

    The CDC offers a list of testing centers at their site:  www.cdc.gov/STD.  If you have been sexually active with more than one partner (or your partner has been sexually active with other people), getting checked can head off avoidable problems — like infertility and birth defects — in the future.

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  • Gonorrhea – On the Rise and a Fertility Risk

    Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

    Gonorrhea is the most widespread and common of STDs… which makes it a huge risk for couples looking to have children now or down the road.  It’s long been known that it can affect fertility; consequently, more fertility specialists are checking their patients for the medical condition.

    Unfortunately, gonorrhea has few symptoms.  In fact, many men and women have no idea they have the STD until years have passed.  Thus, it can “silently” affect individuals for quite a while before being uncovered.

    If you’re experiencing infertility and your physician hasn’t recommended you get checked for gonorrhea, it’s a good idea to ask if you could possibly have the disease.  It’s spread through any kind of sexual contact, so if one or both members of the couple have had other partners, it’s worth finding out if gonorrhea could be to blame for infertility.

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