Most women get pregnant
between 12 months and 14 months after the procedure
. If your PID was mild, you may get pregnant even sooner . It's still possible to conceive after this time . However, if you haven't conceived by 12 to 18 months after the surgery, your fertility specialist may suggest that you also try IVF .
How quickly does PID cause infertility?
PID can permanently scar and damage the fallopian tubes, causing blockage of the tubes. About 12% of women suffer enough tubal damage from one episode of PID to become infertile.
After three episodes of PID, the infertility rate reaches 50%
.
Can infertility caused by PID be treated?
PID can be treated
. However, treatment of PID cannot reverse the scarring caused by the infection. The longer the infection goes untreated, the greater the risk for long-term problems, such as infertility. PID is treated first with antibiotics.
Does PID affect fertility?
PID can lead to serious, long-term problems:
Infertility
—One in 10 women with PID becomes infertile. PID can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes. This scarring can block the tubes and prevent an egg from being fertilized.
Does PID cause permanent damage?
Women develop PID when certain bacteria, such as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), move upward from a woman's vagina or cervix into her reproductive organs.
PID can lead to infertility and permanent damage of a woman's reproductive organs
.
What does PID discharge look like?
But symptoms of PID can also start suddenly and quickly. They can include: Pain or tenderness in the stomach or lower abdomen (belly), the most common symptom. Abnormal vaginal discharge,
usually yellow or green with an unusual odor
.
How long does PID take to heal?
Your symptoms should improve
within 3 days
. If they don't, you should go back to your doctor, because you may need to try something else.
Does PID affect egg quality?
PID can cause permanent damage to the female reproductive organs and scarring in the fallopian tubes
. Scarring in the fallopian tubes can interfere with the egg traveling to the uterus. This can result in the sperm not being able to reach the egg or the egg fertilizing in the tube causing an ectopic pregnancy.
How do I know if PID has caused damage?
If your doctor determines that you have pelvic inflammatory disease, they may run more tests and check your pelvic area for damage. PID can cause scarring on your fallopian tubes and permanent damage to your reproductive organs. Additional tests include:
Pelvic ultrasound
.
Can PID stop menstruation?
As the infection spreads to the cells of the uterus, it
can lead to problems with menstruation
. The Office on Women's Health lists irregular menstrual cycles (like late periods) as one of the symptoms of PID.
What happens if antibiotics don't work for PID?
If it's not treated properly, you can end up with
repeated infections
, or it may make it hard for you to have a baby. Several kinds of bacterial infections can give you PID, including gonorrhea, chlamydia and mycoplasma genitalium. About 770,000 women get it each year.
What causes PID without STD?
You can also get PID without having an STI.
Normal bacteria in the vagina can travel into
a woman's reproductive organs and can sometimes cause PID. Sometimes the bacteria travel up to a woman's reproductive organs because of douching.
Why do I keep getting PID?
A woman can get
PID if bacteria move up from her vagina or cervix and into her reproductive organs
. Many different types of bacteria can cause PID. Most often, PID is caused by infection from two common STIs: gonorrhea and chlamydia. The number of women with PID has dropped in recent years.
What happens if PID is left untreated?
It can affect the uterus, fallopian tubes, and the ovaries. If PID is left untreated, you can
develop chronic infection and infertility
. It is caused by bacteria, often the same type of bacteria that causes STDs.
How long does it take for PID symptoms to appear?
After exposure to the bacteria, it can take
a few days to a few weeks
for a woman to develop PID. In the United States, one fourth of women who have PID are hospitalized. Some of these women may need surgery. PID can lead to serious long-term problems.
What can PID be mistaken for?
PID can be misdiagnosed as
appendicitis
, ectopic pregnancy, ruptured ovarian cysts or other problems.
