I’ve had STIs in the past

I’ve had STIs in the past, but everything’s fine now – Will that stop me conceiving? Should I be concerned?

Your chances of conceiving are affected by both your health, and by your partner's health. It's important that couples are as healthy as possible before trying for a baby. And if you're fit and healthy to start with, you can improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy and labour.

A previous Sexually Transmitted Infection’s should not cause you problem’s. Most STI’s can be completely cured if found early enough. However, if left untreated they can be painful and uncomfortable or at worst cause permanent damage to your health and your fertility.

You do not specify which STI you had, but Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can have long-term consequences in women as they may cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pain. The classical STI’s, such as syphilis and gonorrhoea, are still readily recognised, diagnosed and treated. They seem to be on the decline nationally.

Chlamydia is the most common, curable, sexually transmitted infection in the UK. Many people have not heard of it and are not aware of the health risks it has. Up to 70% of Chlamydia infections in women have no obvious symptoms, so a large number of cases are never diagnosed. Pelvic inflammatory disease is the most common cause of female infertility and this can be caused by Chlamydia. In a large number of investigations there is a clear link between Chlamydia infection and tubal infertility ¹. Untreated STI’s can also be passed on to your baby.

In men, Chlamydia antibodies were found in the semen of 51% of infertile men compared to 23% of fertile men. It was concluded in a study in Finland that Chlamydia can also affect male fertility.

¹ Conway D, Glazener CMA, Caul EO et al: Chlamydial serology in fertile and infertile women. The Lancet, i: 191-193, 1984