by Susan B. Anna

Created on: June 28, 2008

STDs & Infertility

More than half of people will have an STD at some point in their lifetime. In the US the estimated total of people with an STD is over 65 million, and every year there are 19 million new cases of STDs, some of which are curable and others that if left untreated can cause infertility in women.

At least 15 percent of all American women who are infertile can attribute it to tubal damage caused by pelvic inflammatory disease, which is the result of an untreated STD. The only way to reduce the risk of recurring pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is the constant use of condoms, which, of course is also the way to go if you want to avoid contracting other STDs like Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

To explain them all briefly PID is a serious infection in the upper genital tract/reproductive organs, such as the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries of a female. PID can be sexually transmitted or naturally occurring. PID can lead to infertility in women or even life threatening complications. Two of the STDs that can lead to PID are Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Other bacteria or germs can also lead to PID, so therefore, if you have an infection in the genital tract and do not get treated right away, it can cause PID. The infection spreads from the cervix to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries; and it can take several days or several months after being infected to develop PID.

PID can also be misdiagnosed, as I can relate all too well when I was told at twenty years of age that I had PID by a physician that I sought only because my private GYN was on vacation, and I had a severe pain in my left ovary. After this doctor's results and upon my doctor returning from his vacation I immediately went to see him. I explained my visit, and my reason for being there as I was still in a lot of pain. I saw this doctor a few days ago and I was beyond scared. At the time I had just given up my virginity six months before and this doctor tells me as cold as possible "you have a pelvic inflammatory disease." "What's that and how is it caused?" I remember asking. "By having unprotected sex with multiple partners," she replied bluntly and my jaw dropped. "But I've only been with one person," I remember saying before she jotted down a prescription for antibiotics and sent me home. My doctor to say the least was supportive and immediately stated that couldn't be the case and ordered a few tests of his own including an ultrasound, which the first doctor never ordered,

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