Can Childhood Diseases Cause Infertility?

According to recent statistics, the rate of infertility has been increasing globally year by year. This could be due to changing lifestyles and habits. However, one of the reasons for infertility could be due to a childhood disease.

Childhood Diseases that May Cause Infertility

Let's take a look at infertility related to childhood diseases:

Mumps
Mumps is a type of viral infection that affects the whole body. Though it usually affects children, it could also affect individuals in their adult life. The individual gets a fever, headache, and inflammation of the parotid glands.

Sometimes, even one or both the testes can get swollen. This condition is called orchitis. It results in the production of low-quality sperm, painful ejaculation, and swelling in the scrotum and groin area. The quantity of sperm cells produced during ejaculation reduces as well, leading to male infertility.

Though infertility due to mumps in uncommon, there are a few cases when the ovaries and mammary glands could get swollen due to the virus.

Chickenpox
Similar to mumps, chicken pox is also a type of viral infection that leads to fever and inflammation. If the individual has been diagnosed with orchitis, it could lead to problems with the quality and production of sperm. However, unlike mumps, in most cases, the sperm quality and production will be fine once the inflammation has gone down.

Turner’s Syndrome
If a child is born with chromosomal disorders, it could lead to fertility problems. One such disorder is called the Turner’s syndrome. Usually, a girl has two X chromosomes. When a girl has Turner's syndrome, they just have one X chromosome. Apart from chromosomal problems, girls with this syndrome have smaller reproductive organs and could be infertile as well.

Klinefelter’s Syndrome
Klinefelter’s syndrome is a chromosomal disorder in boys. Usually, boys are born with one X and one Y chromosome. Boys with this syndrome will have an extra X chromosome, which could affect them after puberty.

If you have been diagnosed with infertility related to a childhood disease, you can speak to your doctor about it. Though there is no cure for orchitis due to a viral infection, you can follow the remedies to improve your fertility. You could be prescribed anti-inflammatory medicines and packs to bring down the swelling. Refrain from sexual intercourse until the swelling has gone completely as it could lead to STI for both you and your partner. Adopt a healthy lifestyle and take care of your overall well-being.