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Fertility following treated gonorrhea infection
Hi Doctor,
(It took me a minute to figure out how to post to an expert, so this appears in a community fertility forum as well).
Approximately four years ago, I contracted gonorrhea after a one night stand. Prior to this time, I was STD free.
I was treated after 32 days of symptomatic infection, which included discharge, Bartholin glad cyst, and burning with urination.
I am now 34 years old and attempting to conceive for the first time. I stopped taking birth control pills (orthotricylcen) in April and had well-timed intercourse that did not result in pregnancy. My cycle, the first cycle off birth control pills, was 27 days long.
Of course, I am wondering what the heck went wrong. I have been googling and the words "untreated gonorrhea leads to PID which leads to infertility" keeps popping up on my screen.
Here are my questions:
1. How long does it take for gonorrhea to cause long term fertility issues?
2. My doctor does not believe that I had PID from this infection. But, I keep reading that this is a "silent infection," so how would she know?
3. What is the probability that my prior gonorrhea infection has left me unable to have children?
4. What is your advice on how long should I try to conceive before seeking medical intervention?
Thank you in advance for your time. .
(It took me a minute to figure out how to post to an expert, so this appears in a community fertility forum as well).
Approximately four years ago, I contracted gonorrhea after a one night stand. Prior to this time, I was STD free.
I was treated after 32 days of symptomatic infection, which included discharge, Bartholin glad cyst, and burning with urination.
I am now 34 years old and attempting to conceive for the first time. I stopped taking birth control pills (orthotricylcen) in April and had well-timed intercourse that did not result in pregnancy. My cycle, the first cycle off birth control pills, was 27 days long.
Of course, I am wondering what the heck went wrong. I have been googling and the words "untreated gonorrhea leads to PID which leads to infertility" keeps popping up on my screen.
Here are my questions:
1. How long does it take for gonorrhea to cause long term fertility issues?
2. My doctor does not believe that I had PID from this infection. But, I keep reading that this is a "silent infection," so how would she know?
3. What is the probability that my prior gonorrhea infection has left me unable to have children?
4. What is your advice on how long should I try to conceive before seeking medical intervention?
Thank you in advance for your time. .
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
First, I'll say that you shouldn't be dismayed at failure to conceive after a single menstrual cycle without birth control. I'm no fertility expert, but I believe it takes and average of 5-6 cycles before fertile women conceive.
But to your gonorrhea specific questions: You seem to know that female infertility due to gonorrhea occurs from scarred or blocked fallopian tubes following PID. Although silent PID can occur, that's primarily a chlamydia problem, not gonorrhea. The large majority of PID due to gonorrhea causes obvious symptoms of abdominal pain etc. While there may be exceptions, they are uncommon. Those comments pretty well cover your specific questions, but just so there is no room for confusion:
1) Duration of infection isn't the important issue. The longer gonorrhea is present, the higher the chance of PID probably is. But a month isn't all that long; and as already discussed, in the absence of symptoms and diagnosis of PID, the chance of infertiliyt is low.
2) Discussed above. Your doctor is right.
3) With a single episode of gonorrhea without PID, there is almost no chance it made you infertile.
4) As I said, I'm not a fertility expert. But I believe most experts recommend evaluation for possible infertility only when conception has not occurred after at least a year of unprotected mid-cycle sex.
The bottom line is that you shouldn't be worried about your past gonorrhea and your current fertility. I would further advise you to stop searching the web; anxious people tend to be drawn to information that inflames their fears. Much better to just have a conversation with your ObG doctor. Most likely she will confirm all I have said.
Good luck and best wishes for prompt conception-- HHH, MD
First, I'll say that you shouldn't be dismayed at failure to conceive after a single menstrual cycle without birth control. I'm no fertility expert, but I believe it takes and average of 5-6 cycles before fertile women conceive.
But to your gonorrhea specific questions: You seem to know that female infertility due to gonorrhea occurs from scarred or blocked fallopian tubes following PID. Although silent PID can occur, that's primarily a chlamydia problem, not gonorrhea. The large majority of PID due to gonorrhea causes obvious symptoms of abdominal pain etc. While there may be exceptions, they are uncommon. Those comments pretty well cover your specific questions, but just so there is no room for confusion:
1) Duration of infection isn't the important issue. The longer gonorrhea is present, the higher the chance of PID probably is. But a month isn't all that long; and as already discussed, in the absence of symptoms and diagnosis of PID, the chance of infertiliyt is low.
2) Discussed above. Your doctor is right.
3) With a single episode of gonorrhea without PID, there is almost no chance it made you infertile.
4) As I said, I'm not a fertility expert. But I believe most experts recommend evaluation for possible infertility only when conception has not occurred after at least a year of unprotected mid-cycle sex.
The bottom line is that you shouldn't be worried about your past gonorrhea and your current fertility. I would further advise you to stop searching the web; anxious people tend to be drawn to information that inflames their fears. Much better to just have a conversation with your ObG doctor. Most likely she will confirm all I have said.
Good luck and best wishes for prompt conception-- HHH, MD
Thank you very much for your prompt response.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
