The Gonorrhea Infertility Connection
Even with all of the available information there are still far too many women who don’t see STD testing as something they need to worry about. What you may not realize is that gonorrhea is one of the leading preventable causes of infertility. Here we will cover all of the information you need on the gonorrhea infertility connection.
What Is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that affects close to 800,000 people annually in the US alone. Another frightening statistic is that of all of the people infected only half of the cases are reported. This leaves almost half a million people out there having sex without any clue that they could be infecting someone else!
The bacteria that causes gonorrhea thrives in moist conditions and can live within the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, urethra and anus. As well, it can also affect the throat, mouth and eyes. Left untreated, gonorrhea can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which can put you at risk for ectopic pregnancy, infertility and more.
The Silent STD
Gonorrhea can produce some symptoms such as painful urination, discharge and bleeding between periods, but most women will have no symptoms at all. It is the lack of symptoms that leads so many women to assume that there is nothing wrong and therefore not bother to get tested or treated. But as mentioned, leaving gonorrhea untreated can have life-altering consequences. Gonorrhea, infertility and tubal pregnancy are linked and affect so many women, yet few take the time to do anything about it.
Should You Get Tested?
While many women don’t bother to get tested until faced with infertility, it doesn’t mean that you have to make the same mistake. Any woman who has been sexually active should be tested for gonorrhea and other STDs whether they have symptoms or not. Even if you are in a monogamous relationship you are still at risk of contracting gonorrhea because your partner may have been infected since before you met and not known.
For many, getting tested for STDs can be embarrassing but the reality is that it is not only common but also a must because gonorrhea, infertility and other complications can wreak havoc on your life if not diagnosed and treated. A little embarrassment is nothing compared to the heartache one feels when faced with infertility that was preventable.
Getting tested for gonorrhea and other STDs is something that you should make the effort to do annually. The test only takes a few minutes and treating gonorrhea is just a matter of some antibiotics. The earlier gonorrhea is found and treated, the better your chances of not having the infection cause infertility.
