Sleeping with many men raises risk of being infertile

Women who have slept with more than ten men are three times more likely to be infertile due, experts have warned, the Sun has reported.

That's because they're at greater risk of suffering pelvic inflammatory disease - an often symptom-less infection of the reproductive tract that affects millions.

According to UK based newspaper, a new study found the disease, which can cause infertility and lasting abdominal pain, was three times more prevalent in women who had had more than 10 sexual partners compared to women who have had only one.

That's because the disease is often the result of untreated bacterial infections, such as chlamydia and gonnorrhoea.

It can also lead to ectopic pregnancy.

The research, by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), also found women who begun having sex before they were 12 years old were eight times more likely to develop the disease.

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are the most commonly reported STIs in the United States, with about 1.5 million chlamydia and approximately 400,000 gonorrhoea infections reported in 2015.

These diseases may not always present with infections, but when they do they can include abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation while weeing.

Women who have had more sexual partners and are therefore more at risk of STDs are more likely to develop pelvic inflammatory disease.

The researchers concluded that it was important to adhere to guidelines for the prevention and detection of STIs including practising safe sex and getting regular checks with a doctor.

There are no tests to determine if a woman has pelvic inflammatory disease, according to the CDC.

A diagnosis is usually based on a combination of medical history, a physical exam, and other test results.

Symptoms can include pain in the lower abdomen, fever, unusual discharge, pain or bleed while having sex, pain urinating and bleeding between periods.

If it is diagnosed early it can be treated, however the damage already caused to the reproductive tract by the disease cannot be reversed.

Women are recommended to tell their recent sexual partners if they are diagnosed with the disease so they too can get tested for STIs.