Signs of Infertility Related to PID - The Stealth Destroyer of Fertility

Among the many signs of infertility are a number of symptoms that indicate the possible presence of PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). PID is a general term for an array of infection-related symptoms, ranging from pelvic pain, through to lesions and scarring of the pelvic organs, as well as severe infertility. PIDs can be occasionally caused by environmental, bacterial or viral infections. However, the vast majority of infections are the result of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis. These STD infections may have originated many months or years previous to a woman's current situation.
The most obvious signs of infertility are simple and tangible - if an otherwise healthy young couple participates in unprotected sex for a year without having achieved a viable pregnancy then they are considered to be suffering from some form of infertility, until proven otherwise. Other symptoms, however, are more difficult to pinpoint. Symptoms including painful periods, painful sex, pelvic pain and inflammation can be triggered by a wide range of alternative conditions. However, when present in a woman who has failed to conceive, the likelihood increases that the symptoms indicate true infertility.
Like the signs of infertility, PID symptoms are also typically uncertain. Because PID is infection based, symptoms include many of those common to other infectious conditions. If you think you may have been exposed to an infectious disease and are experiencing fever, unusual vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding outside the normal bounds of your period or disruptions of your period, then it may be a good idea to be screened for PID. Other symptoms to be aware of include chills, cramping, fatigue, painful intercourse, and pain of the pelvis and lower back. Unfortunately, PID can also act as a stealth or "silent" infection, where a woman may experience little or no symptoms whatsoever. This can lead to a PID infection not receiving the attention it needs for some time. In many cases ectopic pregnancies are associated with silent infections, and testing performed following an ectopic pregnancy may be the first indication that a woman is infected.
Fortunately PID infections are among the more simple to test for and to diagnose, and in some cases among the easiest to treat. Though lasting damage can be caused by PID infections, the infecting agent in many instances can be eliminated, ending further harm, and in some cases allowing for the possibility of regaining some degree of fertility.
On having detected PID symptoms a patient is likely to be placed immediately on antibiotics. In the most severe cases hospitalization may be required, and further treatment tailored to the particular infectious agent will be commenced. Fortunately, gonorrhea and chlamydia, the two most common causes of PID, can be adequately treated.
The downside of severe cases of PID is that the effect on overall reproductive health can be devastating, leaving abiding signs of infertility and increased inability to conceive. The longer an infection is allowed to continue the more severe the damage can be, resulting in scarring and deformation of the reproductive organs, and a protracted tendency towards ectopic pregnancy and infertility.
Because not all PID infections are the result of STD infections it is wise to consult your doctor if you feel you have any of the PID symptoms mentioned above. This is particularly the case for women who are already dealing with other signs of infertility, and who are hoping to become pregnant at some time in the future. The additional damage caused by PID on top of other previously existing conditions can complicate treatment and reduce the odds of a healthy conception and pregnancy. The sooner a PID infection is dealt with the better the outcome for a woman's fertility.

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