Complications of Common STIs/RTIs

Bacterial vaginosis (BV):

• Can lead to serious complications after an invasive procedure, such as an abortion or a biopsy of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus)
• In pregnant women, can cause premature rupture of membranes, early labor, infection of the uterus and amniotic fluid, early delivery, and delivery of a low-birth-weight baby

Chancroid:

Although treatment cures the infection and complications are rare, chancroid can lead to:

• Scarring and fibrosis
• Chronic ulcers or swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the genital area that can rupture and drain pus
• Rectovaginal fistulas

Chlamydia:

• In men: Can cause pain and swelling in the testicles, painful urination and urgency, or infertility
• In women: Can spread to the uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes, causing PID
• In pregnant women: Can cause early labor and delivery, low birth weight, and can be passed to the baby, causing serious infections (eye infections, pneumonia).
• In men or women: Can lead to Reiter’s syndrome (recurrent episodes of urethritis/cervicitis, arthritis, conjunctivitis, and skin rashes)

Genital herpes:

• Some people experience repeated outbreaks of genital ulcers (in other words, the sores return after they have healed).
• In pregnant women, herpes can be transmitted to the baby. If infected, the baby can become very sick and possibly die.

Genital warts (HPV):

• In pregnant women, hormonal changes can cause genital warts to grow in size or number, bleed, or make delivery difficult. A baby can become infected during pregnancy or delivery and develop warts on the genitals or anus or in the throat.
• Some types of HPV cause abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer.
• The types of HPV that cause genital warts are different from those types that cause cervical cancer.

Gonorrhea:

Most commonly, gonorrhea:

• In men: Can cause pain and swelling in the testicles, leading to infertility
• In women: Can spread to the uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes, causing PID
• In pregnant women: Can cause early labor and delivery and low birth weight, and can be passed to the baby, causing serious eye infections

Less commonly, gonorrhea can get into the bloodstream, leading to an infection throughout the body, often causing pain and swelling in the joints.

Hepatitis B:

Most people fully recover from hepatitis B infection within about six months, many without having experienced symptoms.

• About 1 to 5% of people with the virus become chronic hepatitis B carriers, of whom up to one third develop chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.
• Pregnant women can transmit the virus to the baby (transmission occurs most often during delivery). Most infected babies who are not treated promptly will become chronic carriers and be at increased risk for chronic liver disease.

Hepatitis C:

Basic facts:

• Hepatitis C is a viral infection transmitted through contact with infected blood or other body fluids.
• The most common route of transmission of hepatitis C is injection drug use. Transmission through sexual contact is less common (occurring in approximately 5 to 15% of those infected).
• The infection can be spread by other means, such as blood transfusion; intranasal cocaine use with shared straws; shared items, such as razors and toothbrushes; needlestick injuries; or use of unclean tattooing needles, skin-cutting tools, or surgical equipment.
• Many men and women who have this infection have no symptoms, but they can still pass the infection to others.

HIV infection:

HIV infection weakens the immune system to the point that it has difficulty fighting off opportunistic infections, infections that the body is normally able to fight off. 

• Many infections and conditions may be especially severe, difficult to treat, and recurrent in individuals with HIV infection.
• Women can transmit HIV to a baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. If infected, the baby can develop opportunistic infections that may lead to death.
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is an advanced stage of HIV infection that occurs when the immune system cannot fight off infections. A person with AIDS becomes more susceptible to such conditions as wasting syndrome, malaria, chronic cryptosporida diarrhea, cytomegalovirus eye infection, invasive cervical cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma, lymphoma, mycobacterium avium complex, pneumocystis pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, and tuberculosis.
• At present, there is no cure for AIDS, and it is believed that most people with HIV infection will eventually die from an AIDS-related illness.

Syphilis:

Syphilis initially causes sores that will heal on their own, but the infection will still be present and can progress to:

• Secondary syphilis: Rash, sore throat, muscle aches, tiredness, and swollen lymph nodes
• Tertiary syphilis: No symptoms for many years; eventually can affect every part of the body; at this stage, can damage the heart and nervous system and can cause death
• In pregnant women: Syphilis can be transmitted to the baby, causing stillbirth or the death of the baby shortly after delivery

Trichomonas infection:

In pregnant women, the infection can cause early labor and delivery and low birth weight.

Vaginal yeast infection:

• Other than extreme discomfort from skin irritation in severe infections, there are no complications from vaginal yeast infections.

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