STD Symptoms
Different for male and female

STD symptoms are recognizable, by way of signs like sores or blisters around your genitals or mouth. If you have been told or suspect you have had exposure to a STD, seek medical help immediately. These diseases are a common cause of infertility.

Women are more prone to and will recognize infections, possibly a STD symptom quite easily. Burning, itching and a discharge from the vaginal area, or blisters round the mouth, are all signs of a STD and an appointment with a physician to have any sign of infection tested should happen sooner rather than leaving it and hoping it will go away.

STD symptoms

The most common signs will appear within 7 to 10 days, after infection, while others may take longer to appear.

• Chlamydia - Generally more common in women. A yellowish vaginal discharge, or abdominal pain. If left untreated, the infection can spread and cause infertility.
• Herpes - The infection may cause blisters, turning into small ulcers and then crust over, in or around the vagina, or the mouth area. This could be a result of oral sex. Blisters can form on the mouth, gums or in the throat. Cold sores can also be the result of a herpes virus. This can be transmitted by kissing. Once contracted, the herpes virus never leaves the body. About 50 per cent of people will have reoccurring outbreaks.
• Gonorrhea - also known previously as "the clap". Woman may experience a burning sensation during urination, thick yellow or greenish-yellow vaginal discharge and fever or stomach pain.
• Syphilis - A woman may have a hard, painless lesion on her mouth, vagina or anus. Without treatment, the sores will slowly disappear. However a few weeks later, fever, sore throat and sores or rashes will reappear. Treatment must be obtained.
• Genital warts - Presents with itchy small growths, or bumps, that look like tiny cauliflowers, on the vulva or cervix. This can take as long as 90 days to appear after contact.

If STD symptoms are not treated, this can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can then cause infertility or an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy. Sexually transmitted diseases are responsible for one half to one third of the increase in infertility.

Herpes and genital warts are associated with an increased risk for cervical cancer.

Untreated syphilis leads to central nervous system degeneration, hearing loss and eventually brain damage.

Often an STD, especially syphilis, resists antibiotic treatments and could be the first sign of AIDS in woman. Sores or open lesions caused by an STD, will allow the AIDS virus to enter the body more easily. The reason for this is that blood is the better transmitter of AIDS, not semen.

Diagnosing and STD treatments

• Gonorrhea - a sample of material from the sore (if present), which is examined under a microscope. If no lesions are found, other tests must be performed. Treatment is effective with antibiotics.
• Herpes - a sample of material from the sore (if present), which is examined under a microscope. If no lesions are found, other tests must be performed. Requires treatment over a longer period of time, because the viruses stay in the body.
• Syphilis - a blood test is used to determine the disease. Treatment is effective with antibiotics.
• Chlamydia - an immunofuorescent antibody test is used, along with a reliable culture test. Treatment is effective with antibiotics.
• Genital warts - a pap smear is used, together with a blood test. Can be treated with laser therapy and by applying frozen carbon dioxide to the affected area. Or with an immune system stimulating drug.

Diagnosis can be difficult, as none of the STD testing performed, may be accurate. Therefore obtain at least two tests, or an alternative opinion to confirm a proper diagnosis. If your infertility problems are due to a previous encounter with a STD, this information is best shared with your doctor as soon as possible.

Prevention is better than cure!

No vaccines are available for the five most common of these diseases. No one drug is effective against every one either. Different drugs will be prescribed for each of the different types.

Your background information - history of sexual encounters will be very important. Your doctor will then be able to firstly test for any STDs, and or effect treatment, to increase our fertility status.

Not only is it important to treat any infectious disease during infertility, it is also important for the development and health of the fetus. Many of these diseases can be passed to the unborn child.

In conclusion, if you suspect exposure to or suffered from any STD symptoms, resulting from a previous relationship, then STD testing for yourself and partner, is imperative as part of your infertility plan. Effective STD treatment will assist in changing your fertility status.

Investigate and treat these reasons for infertility as early as possible.

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