Can You Get Pregnant With A Bacterial Infection?

Can You Get Pregnant With A Bacterial Infection?. Genitalia infections are more common than you might think. The most common and most often occurring is Candidiasis, an infection caused by the fungus Candida, usually called Candida albicans, but any other species of this fungus can occur. If you are looking for a pregnancy, you are probably worried about having an infection and how this will affect your fertility and intimacy relations.

Many people think that as long as you have an infection, you can’t get pregnant, but that’s not true. Unless it’s a severe infection, it usually doesn’t affect your fertility. However, precautions should be taken for the duration of the infection and treatment because they are usually very contagious. In this article, we explain whether I can get pregnant if I have a genitalia infection and what precautions you should take to minimize the risks of pregnancy.

Types of infections and fertility

There are several types of infections. Depending on their characteristics, they will be more or less severe and may evolve and affect fertility. Depending on which agent causes them, we can classify infections caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, or trichomonas. These are exogenous agents that can cause a Genitalia infection. However, they can also be hormonal disorders or even be caused by allergies. Here we talk about the consequences for fertility and pregnancy of Genitalia infections.

Candidiasis and pregnancy

The most common of all and the one that most women present is a fungal infection, the most common being the Candida fungus that causes Candidiasis. It is a widespread infection, and many women suffer it at least once in their life. 

Its symptoms are itching in the area and irritation, which can cause inflammation, pain or stinging, and a lot of yellow or thick genitalia discharge with color or even odor.

It is a mild infection that is usually treated with appropriate medications. This type of disease does not affect fertility, but it is very contagious, so intimacy intercourse should be avoided during its illness and treatment. If not, precautions must be taken to prevent contagion.

Chlamydia and pregnancy

For its part, the best known of bacterial infections is Chlamydia. It is transmitted through intimacy activity and must be treated as soon as possible. 

It is a potentially more dangerous infection than that caused by fungi. When there are symptoms, these can be whitish discharge or with a strong smell like that of fish, the flow being more energetic after intimacy intercourse.

Abdominal or pelvic pain or pain while having intimacy and even blood may also appear. However, Chlamydia is often asymptomatic, which is more severe since failure to treat. It can inflame the cervix and pass into the uterus and fallopian tubes, which could lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. 

In this case, it would affect fertility. However, in gynecological check-ups (which must be done at least once a year), doctors control these types of conditions.

Another infection caused by bacteria is ureaplasma, which can also cause pelvic inflammatory disease and is asymptomatic. However, it is much less common than Chlamydia.

Can I get pregnant with HPV?

As for virus infections, most are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) or the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). They are also intimacy transmitted infections. 

HPV can be treated. However, HSV is not treated, but attempts are made to improve symptoms. In the case of human papillomavirus (HPV), having it does not mean that it will affect fertility and, in fact, does not in itself affect your possibility of becoming pregnant. 

However, it can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer, which would affect not only fertility but also a possible pregnancy. In the case of HSV, it does not affect fertility, but it is very contagious and can infect the newborn.

Trichomoniasis and fertility

Trichomoniasis is also an intimacy transmitted infection caused by a parasite. It is widespread, and although it does not usually present symptoms, it is detected in medical tests and has very effective treatment. If you have symptoms, they can appear even after many days of becoming infected, up to 28 days later. 

Symptoms can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. It does not affect fertility, but a woman with a pregnant trichomoniasis is more likely to have a premature birth, or the baby is born with less weight.

As we have said, infections can also be caused by hormonal disorders or even allergies. In this case, they are treated, and they are mild infections that do not affect the fertility of the woman.

Precautions when you have a genitalia infection

Since most infections do not affect a woman’s fertility, you can get pregnant if you have any of them. Therefore, if you do not want a pregnancy, you must protect yourself in the same way. However, even if you were looking for it or you are taking the contraceptive pill, it is advisable to use a condom on the days of the treatment or during the infection since all of them, from the slightest to the most severe, is highly contagious and you run the risk of infecting your partner. 

Therefore, precautions must be taken, and even relationships avoided during this time. If you are looking for a pregnancy, you can try again once the treatment has passed, better wait a few days later. However, when in doubt, it is best to go to the doctor.

It is also essential to maintain some hygiene when you have an infection, such as not drying yourself with the same towel as your partner.

Prevent genitalia infections

To prevent infection, it is essential to use protection in intimacy relations, especially if you have several romantic partners.

In addition, the most common of all, Candidiasis, also usually appears when the body has low defenses so that people with HIV, cancer, or diabetes will be more prone. It can also occur when you have been taking antibiotics for an extended period of time.

This genitalia infection in summer is widespread since many women go to the pool. When you don’t dry your genital area thoroughly or keep your swimsuit or bikini wet for a long time, humidity can cause fungi such as Candida to proliferate. For this, it is essential to change your swimsuit and dry yourself thoroughly when you leave the pool.

If you have any symptoms such as a flow that has changed in color or thickness or that smells bad, it is essential to see a doctor.

 

This article is merely informative; at Redargentina, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to go to a doctor in the case of presenting any kind of condition or discomfort.

References: 

• Bacterial vaginosis. (2015, May 26)
• womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/bacterial-vaginosis.html
• Bacterial vaginosis. (2015, February 3)