In both men and women, genital infections can cause irreversible damage to the reproductive tract, hindering fertility majorly. In men, post-infection infertility is rare, but in women, the most prevalent cause of acquired infertility is symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).
We’ll learn everything there is to know about PID and how it affects our fertility in this post. So, without further ado, let’s get start and understand all about Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)??
PID refers to a group of infections that affect a woman’s upper reproductive organs, such as the uterus, ovaries, and the two fallopian tubes that act as routes between the ovaries and the womb. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease occurs when disease-causing germs in the lower genital tract ascend via the cervix, which divides the uterus and the vagina.
Most PID cases happen because of being sexually active with a partner who suffers from STD infections (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) like chlamydia or gonorrhoea.PID affects up to 40% of women who get one of these illnesses and do not receive effective treatment. PID can develop following a miscarriage, abortion, or any other operation that exposes the cervix or abdomen, allowing disease-causing microorganisms to enter the reproductive organs.
PID – Symptoms
PID symptoms may not appear right away, or they may be so minor that a woman is unaware of them. However, when the condition worsens, PID can result in:
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Lower Abdomen Pain
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Pain in the upper right corner of the stomach
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Fever or Chills
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Nausea & Vomiting
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Irregular Menstruation
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Lower back and rectum discomfort
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Unpleasant Smelling Vaginal Discharge
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Longer, Heavier or Main Painful Periods
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Pain During Intercourse
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Painful Urination
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Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, especially during intercourse
PID symptoms generally appear gradually, but they can sometimes appear suddenly and unexpectedly. If you observe any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. The earlier PID is recognise and treated, the less likely it is to result in infertility or other significant complications.
If you are trying to conceive, PID could turn out to be a major problem. In such cases, you must consult an IVF specialist as soon as possible. If you are from Ahmedabad, you can reach out to the best IVF centre in Ahmedabad – Banker IVF. They are widely known for their unbelievable success rates, transparent lab tests and genuine guidance throughout the IVF process.
PID – Causes
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PID happens due to several microorganisms, the most prevalent of which are gonorrhoea or chlamydia infections. Typically, these microorganisms enter the body through unprotected intercourse.
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Douching can help PID-causing bacteria proliferate by pushing germs from the vaginal area up into the reproductive system, resulting in an overgrowth of dangerous bacteria.
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Bacteria can enter your reproductive system when the cervix’s normal barrier breaks, which happens less frequently. It can occur during or after menstruation, childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion.
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Bacteria can also enter the reproductive system through the implantation of an intrauterine device (IUD) — a type of long-term birth control— or any medical treatment involving the introduction of equipment into the uterus.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease – Risks
Scar tissue and pockets of infected fluid (abscesses) may form in the reproductive system if the Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is not treated. And if PID is not treated, it can harm our reproductive organs in the long run.
The risk from this PID might include:
Ectopic Pregnancy: The fertilized egg is unable to pass through the fallopian tube and implant in the uterus due to scar tissue. The egg implants in the fallopian tube rather than in the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies can result in enormous, life-threatening bleeding, necessitating immediate medical assistance.
Infertility: Infertility, or the inability to become pregnant, can happen because of damage to your reproductive organs. The more PID you’ve had, the higher your chances of being infertile. Delaying treatment for PID also raises your chances of becoming infertile.
Chronic Pelvic Pain: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease can result in months or years of pelvic discomfort. During intercourse and ovulation, scarring in your fallopian tubes and other pelvic organs might cause pain.
Tubo-Ovarian Abscess: PID may produce an abscess in your reproductive tract, which is a collection of pus. Abscesses usually develop in the fallopian tubes and ovaries, although they can also develop in the uterus or other pelvic organs. You risk developing a life-threatening infection if you leave an abscess untreated.
PID – Prevention
If you want to reduce the risk of getting PID, you should follow the following tips:
Practise Safe Sex: When having sex, always use condoms, restrict your number of partners, and inquire about a possible partner’s sexual history.
Consult Your Doctor About Contraception: Many types of contraception are ineffective in preventing the onset of PID. Barrier techniques, like a condom, can assist in lowering the risk. To avoid STIs, wear a condom every time you have intercourse with a new partner, even if you’re on birth control pills.
Get Tested: Make an appointment with your doctor for testing if you think you might have an STI. If necessary, set up a regular screening routine with your doctor. You have the highest chance of preventing PID if you treat an STI as soon as possible.
Get Your Partner Tested: If you have a Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or a sexually transmitted infection, tell your partner to get tested and treated as well. This regular testing can help reduce the spread of STIs and the recurrence of PID.
Avoid Douching: Douching disrupts the bacterial equilibrium in your vaginal area and can cause PID.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease – Treatment
Prompt medical care can eliminate the infection that causes Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. However, any scarring or damage to the reproductive system created by PID is irreversible. Here are some of the most common treatments for PID:
Antibiotics: To begin with, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics, and you should start taking them right away. Your doctor may change your medication based on the findings of your blood tests to better match what’s causing the infection. After three days, you’ll probably see your doctor to make sure the medication is working. Even if you start to feel better after a few days, make sure you take all of your prescriptions.
Surgery: Only rare cases require surgery. Your doctor may drain an abscess if it ruptures or threatens to rupture. If you don’t react to antibiotics or if your diagnosis is questionable, such as if one or more of the symptoms are present, you may need surgery.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – Infertility
Getting pregnant while suffering from Pelvic Inflammation Disease (PID) can complicate things a bit! PID affects about 1 in every 8 women who try to conceive. Women suffering from PID should not give up hope. Women with PID can have the same chances of becoming pregnant as those who do not have the disorder if they get specific infertility treatments.
Scarring can result from infection in the fallopian tubes and the body’s reaction to the disease. Scarring can make it more difficult to conceive because it interrupts the mobility of the egg and sperm.
The egg travels from the ovary to the fallopian tube before fertilization. The sperm travels up the fallopian tube to fertilize the egg. After that, the egg travels through the fallopian tube after fertilization to implant in the womb.
Scarring of the fallopian tube might make it difficult for the egg or sperm to travel through the tube, lowering your chances of becoming pregnant.
In Conclusion
With today’s advanced technology, even though getting pregnant is more challenging, having a baby is not impossible for women who have had PID. Fertility procedures such as can help many women with the disorder conceive a baby. In reality, IVF success rates in women with PID are comparable to those in the general population. In Vitro Fertilization can help many women with the disorder conceive a baby.
Dr Banker – an IVF specialist, suggests that the severity of the infection and the length of time the condition went untreated determine a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. The simplest strategy to avoid Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is to use condoms to limit the chance of getting an STD infection. He also suggests regular well-woman tests for sexually active women.
