WATCH OUT! YOU ARE AN EASY TARGET.!!

PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE CAUSING INFERTILITY

“A woman completes her ‘Womanhood’ only when she becomes a mother”, a saying which seems to have embossed into the Indian minds!

But today, the complex issue of infertility outlaws a woman from gaining the grade of complete womanhood. Many women in today’s world pour their anxiety of not being able to conceive and hence being branded ‘INFERTILE’.

Other than POS, PCOS etc, another new name intruding into the field of STD infertility is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. It is the next complicated stage of sexually transmitted disease (STD). PID refers to infection of the womb, fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the womb) and other reproductive organs, leading to infertility quandaries.

Pelvic inflammatory disease develops when microorganisms, like bacteria infect female reproductive organs. Normally the Cervix (the lower part of the Uterus extending into the vagina) acts as a barrier to prevent the entry of disease-causing microorganisms into the inner reproductive organs. During certain disease conditions, the Cervix gets tainted facilitating the entry of microorganisms to the other parts, which might lead to PID.

The famous heiress PARIS HILTON is one of the big names infected with STD

(As per a website)

CAUSES:

Although there are diverse grounds for being troubled by the disease, you can get PID through several ways. The most common cause is having sex with a person infected with Chlamydia (A sexually transmitted disease caused by an organism called Chlamydia trachomitis).

Other than that, those women who choose to have multiple sex partners and the ones who are in the right age cohort of conceiving are also at most risk. Females under the age 25 are also more likely to develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) than those older than 25, the fundamentals behind is that the cervix of girls below 25 is not fully prepared to fight with Sexually Transmitted Disease which later results into PID.

PID mostly affects sexually active women between the ages of 15 and 24. It is common in females and is gradually growing in India especially in metropolitan cities because of so much exposure to sex.

MAJOR TYPES OF STD RESULTING IN PID:

Most cases of PID are caused by an infection that has spread from the vagina or the neck of the womb (cervix) to the reproductive organs higher up.

Many different types of bacteria can cause PID, but most cases are the result of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as Chlamydia or gonorrhoea.

This means that the most effective way of preventing PID is to protect you against STIs by using a barrier method of contraception such as a male or female condom, and to get regular sexual health check-ups.

Symptoms can include:

·         Vaginal irritation

·         Vaginal discharge

·         Lower abdominal pain

·         Intermenstrual bleeding

·         Fever

·         Vomiting

·         Bleeding after sexual intercourse,

·         And some patients are asymptomatic. 

When ignored the bacteria multiplies and spread to other organs like uterus (womb) through Cervix (The part of the uterus that opens into the upper part of the vagina) and from there to the Fallopian Tubes where it makes scar tissues to Ovaries, Bladder, wall of Pelvis and other reproductive organs.

Dr. Shobha Gupta, Infertility Specialist at Mothers Lap IVF Centre – New Delhi says, “Pelvic Inflammatory Disease can lead to serious consequences including infertility, or pregnancy in the fallopian tube or elsewhere outside of the womb, sore formation, and chronic pelvic pain. Seek medical help; early detection can prevent severe outcomes. Precaution is better than Cure!”

She further adds “an estimated one woman in five who have PID becomes infertile as a result. However, most women are able to get pregnant without problems after a single episode of PID”

EVERY CAUSE HAS AN EFFECT AND EVERY NEGATIVE EFFECT CAN BE AVOIDED THROUGH PREVENTION says Dr Shobha :

1. One should get an early treatment if they find they are infected with STD

2. Use of condoms is mandatory - Practicing safe sex, using superior quality latex condoms which can reduce the risk of STD

3. Regular testing for:

· Sexually active women age 25 or younger

· Older women who have a new sex partner or multiple sex partners

· All pregnant women

4. Any genital symptoms such as an unusual sore, discharge with odor, burning during urination, or bleeding between menstrual cycles could mean Sexually Transmitted infection.

In such a scenario one should abstain from having sex and consult a gynecologist.