Posts Tagged ‘STDs’

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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  • Helping Your Fertility-Related New Year’s Resolutions Come True

    Thursday, December 31st, 2009

    Are you planning on having a child in 2010?  If so, you may want to take some steps to make sure you give yourself every chance of greeting 2011 with a baby (or a baby on the way.)

    What can you do to get yourself prepared?  Depending upon your situation, there are a number of items you should consider, including the following:

    1. Stop smoking.
    2. Stop drinking alcohol.
    3. Stop taking any illegal drugs.
    4. Stop taking any prescription drugs (if possible) that may hinder fertility.
    5. Start (or continue) a moderate exercise program.
    6. Stop using any form of birth control.
    7. Get checked for any kind of STDs.  (They often have no symptoms and can be an unrealized cause of infertility.)
    8. If you’ve had infertility problems, get assistance from a reputable reproductive science specialist.
    9. Eat a diet that’s high in vitamins and lower in saturated fats.
    10. Try to de-stress whenever possible.
    11. Start having sex every three days or so (except during menses) to maximize your chances of natural conception.
    12. If you’ve decided to consider surrogacy, start checking out clinics that can assist you in finding a surrogate.
    13. Men may want to start wearing boxers.  (Some studies have shown that briefs can cause sperm efficacy problems.)
    14. Males may also want to be careful when using cell phones.  (Cell phones placed in laps can possibly affect sperm quality and counts.)
    15. If you’re considering IVF and you’re employed, you may want to look into your rights when it comes to time off or short term disability leave (if necessary).
    16. For couples looking to conceive through the donation of a viable egg, it makes sense to connect with a clinic that offers a well-respected egg donor program.

    Happy New Year to you!  Feel free to contact RSI to help you make your baby dreams a reality!

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  • Study Suggests Women Aren’t Waiting to Get Fertility Treatments

    Friday, December 18th, 2009

    Rumor would have us believing that women are putting off their fertility treatments until the latest possible time in their lives, but that seems to be a myth.  A recent survey of over 700 women showed that 88% were under age 35 when they first sought treatment for their fertility issues.

    This shows that many women (and men) are recognizing the signs that they might need help (e.g., not conceiving naturally after trying for about a year to get pregnant, a series of ectopic pregnancies, endometriosis, STDs).  It’s a good development, as it gives individuals and families more time to work with reproductive science specialists to address their fertility issues.

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