Q & A with Dr. Cullins: STIs/STDs

Yes. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can both cause sterility as well as arthritis. It is more likely to occur in men and can be permanently disabling. About 5,000 men a year develop reactive arthritis caused by chlamydia.

Untreated gonorrhea can lead to a condition called disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). The arthritis caused by DGI can permanently damage the joints of the back, hips, neck, hands, arms, feet, and legs. DGI develops in up to three percent of untreated women and men. Women, especially adolescent women, are three times more likely than men to develop DGI.