While I am sure I do not have to explain what sexually transmitted diseases are, some people are unaware of how they can affect pregnancy and fertility. Some sexually transmitted diseases can actually cause infertility if it goes untreated. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
As a refresher course, the main sexually transmitted diseases are:
-HIV
-Gonorrhea
-Syphilis
-Bacterial vanignosis
-Chlamydia
-Hepatitis
-Herpes
-Human papilloma virus
-Trichomoniasis
-Pelvic inflammatory disease
You should get tested once a year if you are sexually active with multiple partners, or plan to conceive a child. Once pregnant your doctor should test for the basics in a blood test as well.
Did you know that if you have a sexually transmitted disease and become pregnant that you can pass that disease on to your child? Or that some sexually transmitted diseases can cause you to have early labor? In some cases the disease can become deadly to mother and baby. It is important to know what you are dealing with prior to going in to a pregnancy.
Speak with your doctor about your sexually transmitted disease prior to getting pregnant, if you can. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis may all be treated and cured with a simple antibiotic. Take the medication as directed, become “clean” and be prepared to become pregnant as a healthy woman.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the most commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. In 2009 alone, there were a reported 1,244,180 chlamydia cases and 301,174 gonorrhea cases. These two are also what will mess with your fertility and make it more difficult, if not impossible, to become pregnant. When it comes to infertility, chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most preventable cause of infertility. Roughly 10-15% of women who have these will get pelvic inflammatory disease as well. According to science, chlamydia can cause severe infections of your fallopian tubes that you cannot feel, as there are no symptoms of that infection. This is known as a “silent” infection. That “silent” infection added to the pelvic inflammatory disease can cause permanent damage to your reproductive system. This permanently damaging your fertility.
I actually have a string of the human papilloma virus myself. It was not passed along to my children during birth or pregnancy and it did not affect my fertility. Just be sure to speak with your doctor about what you have. He or she may have you follow through with medication, or if they feel it will not harm the baby, they may leave it as is until after birth. Not all sexually transmitted diseases can be treated during pregnancy.
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