A Consultant Gynaecologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Charles Takyi, has urged the public, especially the youth, to stop indiscriminate sex with multiple partners since it could affect their fertility.
According to him, having multiple sexual partners was one of the leading cause of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), adding that some of these infections did not show any symptoms which he described as very dangerous.
STIs are sexually transmitted infections transmitted from one person to another during unprotected sex or close sexual contact with the person who already has an STI.
Infections are passed from one person to another during vaginal, anal or oral sex, adding that there are four major types of STIs and they are grouped into bacterial, viral, protozoa and other infections.
Dr Takyi said in terms of public health significance, there are eight major ones under bacterial and protozoa, including gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and then trichomoniasis infection which is a protozoa.
He said the remaining four included HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis B, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and herpes.
“Majority of STIs are asymptomatic. That means they are without symptoms so majority of people by the time they are detected to have it, then it is too late, but there are a few symptoms, for example when it comes to gonorrhea,there are signs such as vaginal discharge, fever, vomiting, but Chlamydia will not give you any symptoms and this is very dangerous.
“What happens is that through the Chlamydia infections, women tend to have damaged tubes. And these damaged tubes invariably lead to issues where there is fertilisation in tubes, but the fertilised embryo is not able to come back into the womb which could lead to ectopic pregnancy,” he said.
Dr Takyi said there could be fertilisation or not due to damaged tubes or to the extent that the egg may not able to travel to meet the sperm for pregnancy to take place.
He said pregnant women with chlamydia could pass the infection to unborn babies if not treated on time, adding that untreated gonorrhea could lead to various complications in both men and women, such as infertility and infection to other parts of the body.
Dr Takyi mentioned that untreated Chlamydia and gonorrhea were important and might cause women to develop PelvicInflammatory Disease (PID) affecting the upper genital tract with permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues, which could lead to infertility.
Dr Takyi advised all sexually active women and men to be screened, at least every year, for infections for early detection and treatment.
“Practicing safer sex can reduce the risk of getting infections in the first place and the best way for sexually active people to avoid infections is to use a condom and also maintain one sexual partners,” he said.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG