Planning to start a family is a momentous affair for many married couples. However, for many, it is also a worrying and stressful affair. What if I cannot get pregnant within a set timeframe? What if I am not able to conceive?
Ensuring that you are in good health is vital for both partners. There are many vital factors to note if your primary focus is on having a safe pregnancy as soon as possible. One of which is the need for STD testing. Discover in this guide all you need to know about the relationship between STDs and pregnancy.
Get STD testing before you attempt to try for a baby
The first thing we recommend both partners do is to get tested for common STDs, especially if you have been sexually active prior to this relationship. There are many reasons why such a comprehensive test is beneficial.
For starters, getting a negative result can provide you with a sense of assurance as you stop using contraceptives. And if you do get a positive STD test result, you can begin your treatment process as soon as possible.
Several STDs can impact fertility in both genders, some of which even exhibit no symptoms until it is too late. Some common STDs in men can impact sperm motility and count. STDs, such as gonorrhoea, cause epididymitis, which is the inflammation of the sperm ducts, which can remain undetected for an extended period, leading to reproductive issues and permanent scarring.
For women, STDs are a bigger call for concern than for men. STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, cause an increased risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, which may cause permanent scarring and damage. Women who do get pregnant despite developing the disease run an increased risk of developing ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages.
What to do if you test positive for STD
Getting a negative STD result is good news as it means that you can start working on getting pregnant immediately. The question is, what happens if you do get tested positive for STD? While such a piece of news can be frightening, it is fortunately not the end of the world. With adequate treatment, many STDs can be resolved. Discovering it early means that you can begin treating it, reducing the risk of developing any permanent reproductive damage.
It is also vital to let the doctor know of your plan to start a family before starting your treatment plan. Certain STD drugs and antibiotics are not suitable for pregnant women. In the unfortunate event that you may suffer from certain STD-related complications, you might also be recommended to a fertility specialist who will assess the associated damage and treat it. The good news is that the majority of STD patients go on to have children of their own.
Effects of STDs on pregnancies
Another scenario you need to know about is if you do get an STD while already pregnant. What, then, should you do? Needless to say, that is not the scenario you should be looking forward to. Pregnancy reduces the type of treatments you can go through significantly. Additionally, many common STDs run the risk of increased pregnancy complications.
The first thing to be aware of is that STDs during pregnancy mean your unborn child has an increased risk of being passed on the disease. This is why STD tests are so important before trying for a baby. For example, chlamydia increases the chances that your child is born with pneumonia or eye infections.
There are alternatives to antibiotics that can be prescribed to pregnant women and will help treat STDs, keeping both mother and child safe. However, it is best to avoid that completely. Hence, we always recommend our patients conduct regular STD tests, especially if they have multiple partners or are sexually active.
Conclusion
Whether you are at the stage of trying for a baby, have just started getting sexually active, or have been with your partner for a long time, getting regular STD testing is vital, and it can save you from a whole lot of unnecessary worry and pain. Knowledge is power, and detecting STDs early opens up opportunities to act on them quickly, making the best move for your health and those around you.
STD testing is readily available at Elyon Clinic. We provide an extensive range of testing services, ranging from basic testing to comprehensive male and female STD tests. For more information, you may find them at https://elyonclinic.com.sg/.
