{"id":105805,"date":"2023-10-25T10:30:56","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T08:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/?p=105805"},"modified":"2024-03-28T11:34:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T09:34:13","slug":"chlamydia-or-gonorrhoea-infertility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/chlamydia-or-gonorrhoea-infertility\/","title":{"rendered":"Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhoea infections can lead to infertility"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>According to a report published last June by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/organisations\/uk-health-security-agency\">UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)<\/a>, in 2022, the highest number of diagnosed cases of gonorrhoea was recorded since records began in 1918, with a total of 82,592 new cases. The report also notes that <strong>chlamydia is the most commonly registered sexually transmitted infection<\/strong>, with nearly 200,000 cases in 2022 alone. In addition to the known health implications of contracting an STI, these infections can also complicate or prevent conception due to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/chlamydia-or-gonorrhoea-infertility\/#What_is_Pelvic_Inflammatory_Disease_PID\" title=\"What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?\">What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/chlamydia-or-gonorrhoea-infertility\/#How_do_STIs_affect_female_fertility\" title=\"How do STIs affect female fertility?\">How do STIs affect female fertility?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/chlamydia-or-gonorrhoea-infertility\/#Symptoms_and_treatment_of_STIs\" title=\"Symptoms and treatment of STIs\">Symptoms and treatment of STIs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/chlamydia-or-gonorrhoea-infertility\/#How_does_Human_Papillomavirus_HPV_affect_fertility\" title=\"How does Human Papillomavirus (HPV) affect fertility?\">How does Human Papillomavirus (HPV) affect fertility?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/chlamydia-or-gonorrhoea-infertility\/#Do_STIs_also_affect_male_fertility\" title=\"Do STIs also affect male fertility?\">Do STIs also affect male fertility?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Pelvic_Inflammatory_Disease_PID\"><\/span><strong>What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is one of the consequences of an infection by<em> Neisseria gonorrhoeae <\/em>and <em>Chlamydia<\/em>. These sexually transmitted bacteria spread from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. The consequences include inflammation, scarring, or even blockage of the fallopian tubes, which hinders <strong>fertilization or the proper passage of the embryo<\/strong>, potentially leading to an ectopic pregnancy. In acute forms, PID can result in an abscess in the tube and the ovary (tubo-ovarian abscess) or become established in the endometrium (chronic endometritis).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_STIs_affect_female_fertility\"><\/span><strong>How do STIs affect female fertility?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>An obstruction in the fallopian tubes due to an infection prevents the transport of eggs from the ovaries, making it <strong>impossible for sperm to find an egg to fertilize and generate an embryo<\/strong>. In some cases, the fallopian tubes may be partially blocked, and even if fertilization occurs, the embryo <strong>may not be able to implant in the uterus due to the STI.<\/strong> In this regard, chronic endometrial infection <strong>often does not present symptoms, making it difficult to suspect its existence<\/strong>. Only on occasion does it lead to scarring of the uterus, resulting in Asherman&#8217;s syndrome, which prevents embryo implantation and placenta formation during pregnancy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Symptoms_and_treatment_of_STIs\"><\/span><strong>Symptoms and treatment of STIs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There may be occasions when a patient suffers from both chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections simultaneously. However, these infections <strong>can be asymptomatic or manifest with very mild symptoms that make detection challenging<\/strong>. Regarding treatment, chlamydia usually responds well to antibiotic medications, while gonorrhoea is more resistant to antibacterials. In any case, early detection is crucial to prevent future problems.<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal discharge, pain during sexual intercourse, bleeding between periods, or a burning sensation when urinating should be consulted with a specialist who can treat a possible PID as soon as possible. However, in other cases, this condition may not be accompanied by symptoms, especially in its chronic forms, and the diagnosis may arise from difficulties in achieving conception. This is common in the case of hydrosalpinx, the dilation of the fallopian tube with thinning and irregularity of the wall, along with fluid accumulation. All of this leads to tubal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/faqs\/causes-of-infertility\/\">infertility<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_Human_Papillomavirus_HPV_affect_fertility\"><\/span><strong>How does Human Papillomavirus (HPV) affect fertility?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>HPV can affect fertility indirectly, particularly in women. It may lead to cervical dysplasia or precancerous changes, which alter the cervix&#8217;s structure and disrupt cervical mucus production, hindering sperm transport. Severe cases often require treatments like cervical conization or LEEP, potentially <strong>causing scarring that further obstructs sperm passage and can increase the risk of a late miscarriage or pre-term birth<\/strong>. In extreme situations where cervical cancer develops due to long-term HPV infection, a hysterectomy may be necessary, resulting in permanent infertility. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_STIs_also_affect_male_fertility\"><\/span><strong>Do STIs also affect male fertility?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Despite the greater impact on women, STIs can <strong>also cause infertility in men<\/strong>. As a result of gonorrhoea or chlamydia infection, the epididymis, which are the ducts located at the back of the testicles that store and mature sperm for fertilization, can become blocked. In the case of HPV, this infection can <strong>hinder the free movement of sperm<\/strong>, negatively impacting the <strong>chances of pregnancy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A blocked epididymis would hinder the proper maturation of sperm, preventing them from acquiring the necessary mobility to reach the egg and achieve natural fertilization. Another gland frequently affected by STIs is the prostate, which provides nutrients to sperm as they pass through the seminal pathways. Its inflammation, often becoming chronic, hampers the proper function of sperm. However, if we start with the premise of transmitting the STI to a female partner, the chances of encountering many more difficulties in conceiving are greatly increased.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"According to a report published last June by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in 2022, the highest number of diagnosed cases of gonorrhoea was recorded since records began in 1918, with a total of 82,592 new cases. The report also notes that chlamydia is the most commonly registered sexually transmitted infection, with nearly 200,000&#8230; <a class=\"view-article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/chlamydia-or-gonorrhoea-infertility\/\">View Article<\/a>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":106361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,18],"tags":[216,219,221,372],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Chlamydia or gonorrhoea can lead to infertility: symptoms<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this blog we are going to explain how infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea can lead to several problems like infertility.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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