Male fertility: STIs that may reduce your chances of becoming a dad

Becoming a parent can bring immense joy to people. However, not being able to do so is not the end of the world. But when it comes to fertility, there are a lot of things that we must keep in mind. Besides biological reasons for why you cannot conceive, there are other factors that can affect male fertility. While changes in lifestyle, eating the right foods, working out regularly and limiting unhealthy habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption can help boost your chances of conception, certain STIs i.e. sexually transmitted infections can put a hold on that. Read on to find out what these infections are...

Also read: Male fertility: Men who want to have kids should do THESE 7 things

Caused by a sexually transmitted bacterium, gonorrhea is an infection that can infect both male and female. In men, it can cause a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles, which can, in rare cases, lead to infertility, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fortunately, gonorrhea is usually easily cured with antibiotics, which is why talking to your doctor about your symptoms, or getting yourself diagnosed early can help avoid any life-threatening instances.

As per the CDC, men rarely have health problems from chlamydia. However, this infection can cause a considerable decline in the motility and the quality of sperm, affecting fertility. The health body also warns against untreated chlamydia, which may also increase one's chances of getting or giving HIV.

Syphilis like other STIs can be passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. As far as men are concerned, these can lead to sores on or around the penis, around the anus, or in the rectum, or in or around the mouth. It is important to note, untreated syphilis can cause infertility in both women and men. For men, epididymitis causes most syphilis-related infertility.

In men, genital herpes can cause red bumps around the genital area, including the penis, scrotum, and anus. It is an incurable infection but can be managed with antiviral medications. As of now, while there is no solid evidence to prove that herpes can affect fertility, one study showed that the infection can result in a low sperm count, which is why it is best to avoid it through proper precautions.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a transmissible virus that attacks the body's immune system. It can be passed on from person to person through contact with infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids. As far as HIV-related fertility issues are concerned, reports have suggested that sperm parameters that reflect fertility are significantly impaired in HIV-1 infected men. From semen volume, sperm motility to concentration and morphology, all measurements are said to be "adversely affected."