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  |  Women's Health  |  Reproductive Health  |  Pelvic inflammatory disease: the facts
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Pelvic inflammatory disease: the facts

by Dr Lesley Hickin
continued from page 2

What are the complications?
Many women become infertile each year as a result of PID, and a large proportion of the ectopic (tubal) pregnancies occurring each year are a result of pelvic infection.

Women with recurrent episodes of PID are more likely to develop scarring of the Fallopian tubes and subsequent infertility than women with a single episode. Infertility occurs in about 20 per cent of women with PID. A woman who has had PID is six to ten times more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy, and this is almost always life-threatening to the foetus and sometimes to the mother.

In addition, untreated PID can lead to chronic pelvic pain and scarring in about 20 per cent of cases.

How can you protect yourself?

  • Report any symptoms of pelvic pain, unusual discharge and irregular or heavy bleeding to your doctor.
  • If you are at high risk (see above) then protect yourself against STIs by using male condoms, which almost completely prevent gonorrhoea and partially prevent chlamydia infection.
  • If you are in a high risk group then you should be screened for chlamydia infection regularly. A recent study showed a staggeringly high number of teenagers in Nottingham carried chlamydia.
  • Ensure that your sexual partner is treated at the same time as you.

    The future
    Newer and more sensitive testing methods are needed in general usage to detect chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Research is ongoing to develop a vaccine and topical antimicrobial treatment. Education about the subject is necessary at an early age, and teenagers should have easier access to confidential and expert advice on sexual health matters.

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