Infections that might cause infertility in women
This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Hugh Taylor, MD.
In the United States, we are primarily concerned about sexually transmitted disease, such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Outside the United States, Tuberculosis can block fallopian tubes and cause infertility in women.
How Chlamydia and gonorrhea cause infertility?
Chlamydia bacteria and gonorrhea bacteria move from vagina and cervix upward into the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes. The long term effect of this is that it causes scarring of fallopian tubes which can block the tubes and prevent sperm-egg interaction.
What STDs do not cause infertility?
- Herpes: Herpes infection could cause painful lesions, but it does not cause infertility
- HPV: HPV infection could cause abnormal pep smears, but does not cause infertility
One word of caution:
If a patient is diagnosed with Herpes or HPV, he or she might want to get tested for Chlamydia and gonorrhea as well. This is because the presence of Herpes and HPV could be a sign of exposure to sexually transmitted infections in general. What we do not want to happen is that infertility-causing infections go unnoticed.
Disclaimer:
What we stated above does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your specific situation.