PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID)

 By Uche Akolisa  |

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease( PID) is a bacterial infection of the upper female genital tract, including the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections.

A fertility expert, and MD, Trucare Fertility Centre,Victoria Island, Lagos, Dr Sola Akinniyi linked many cases of female infertility in the Nigeria to tubal blockage, a fallout of  pelvic inflammatory diseases(PID.)

According to experts, PIDs are mostly caused by sexually-transmitted infections, especially Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. At-risk women include those who have multiple sex partners, or have unprotected sex with a partner who has multiple partners.  Dr Akinde also traced PID to non-sexual factors such as delivering a baby in an unhygienic environment as is the case with traditional birth attendants, poor personal hygiene during menstruation and women who uses the intrauterine device as a form of birth control.

Other factors identified by medics include unsafe abortions and ruptured appendicitis.

Signs you have PID Symptoms of acute PID which often present a few days after the start of the menstrual period. They include burning sensation during urination, fever, pain in the lower abdomen or the pelvic region, bleeding in-between periods and abnormal smelly vaginal discharge.

PID can be treated if  diagnosed early,  but, CDC warns that the treatment will not undo any damage that may have already be done to the woman’s reproductive system.    Without treatment, pelvic inflammatory disease could cause more damage such as scar tissues that could to tubal blockage, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, liver disease,  chronic pelvic pain and possible sterilization.