April 14th, 2016
Are you aware that sexually transmitted infections are classified as the most common preventable causes of infertility in the general population? According to the latest data reported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, investigators reported that 15% of all the females who develop chlamydia are at risk of developing chronic pelvic inflammatory disease – a leading cause of infertility in young females(1). In addition, STDs are also known to affect male fertility and sexual functions in chronic cases.
Chronic and poorly managed sexually transmitted infections in females are a constant source of inflammation of the genital passageways (also known as pelvic inflammatory disease). In long standing cases, the tubes and tissues may undergo permanent scarring or fibrosis. It is imperative to mention that most cases of PID are silent or asymptomatic. In other words, the ongoing infection slowly and irreversibly damages the uterus, fallopian tubes and surrounding tissues, long before the infection is even diagnosed. The resultant effects are:
Likewise, long standing sexually transmitted infections can also compromise the quality of sexual life in males by causing:
In most cases, STDs may not present with classic symptoms; but presence of certain sign and symptoms can help in the diagnostic process; for example:
Each year, more than 15 million new cases of STDs are diagnosed in the United States. Such infections takes a huge toll on personal, economical and emotional state of affected individuals; however, with early diagnosis and prompt treatment, risk of long term sequelae can be largely minimized. CDC recommends periodic physical examination and laboratory workup for sexually active young females to detect sexually transmitted infections at an early stage. According to latest available data, more than 820,000 cases of gonorrhea and over 2.86 million cases of chlamydia are reported in the United States each year. More frequent follow-up visits are recommended for individuals with certain risk factors such as:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/std/infertility
2. Workowski, K. A. (2015). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 61(suppl 8), S759-S762.
3. McNicholas, C., Peipert, J. F., Maddipati, R., Madden, T., Allsworth, J. E., & Secura, G. M. (2013). Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevalence in a Population Seeking No Cost Contraception. Sexually transmitted diseases, 40(7), 546.
4. Weinstock, H., Berman, S., & Cates, W. (2004). Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health, 36(1), 6-10.
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