What are the common infections that affect infertility?
The two most common causes of upper genital tract infections in women leading to infertility are Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. Both are sexually transmitted diseases. Several times, the infected women have no symptoms — but the scarring or damage of the fallopian tubes may eventually cause infertility.
Pelvic inflammatory disease is another infectious condition of the female reproductive tract, and it is also an STD as well as caused by abortion, dilatation and curettage surgery, childbirth, and the excessive use of an intrauterine device.
How do infections affect infertility?
Pelvic infections are an important cause of infertility, primarily as a result of tubal damage. Damage to the fallopian tubes from infections may be due to adhesions, tubal mucosal damage, or tubal occlusion that interferes with normal movement of the eggs. Chlamydial infections may be asymptomatic, and the resulting salpingitis is often referred to as silent pelvic inflammatory disease. Polymicrobial infection with other organisms such as anaerobes or facultative aerobes may be initiated by gonorrhoea, chlamydia, or both.
What are the treatments for infections related to infertility?
Yes. There are options such as tubal microsurgery and assisted reproductive technologies that allow couples options to conceive and have a child despite having infertility issues in the past or as the result of a previous pelvic infection.
How infections affect male infertility?
The common implications of infections on male infertility is abnormalities in the production of sperms. Infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, mumps or HIV are commonly associated with altering the state of the spermatozoa and thereby causing infertility.
How infections affect female infertility?
The common implications of infections on female infertility is abnormalities in the fallopian tubes – as a result of STIs, or pelvic adhesions. Both these conditions make it difficult for a female to either conceive or sustain her conception.
