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I was diagnosed with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease [PID] and am taking medication for it. I have felt tightness in my lower abdomen, the left side but today I woke up and it's really bad, spreading to my back on the left side, cramping up when i I bend down or move in different directions. I'm scared I will have long term effects etc if I don't see a doctor.
Do my symptoms still sound like PID??
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Hi! i am 24 years old. I have been diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy and PID way back 2005. I was hospitalized for a couple of days and did have treatments (with antibiotics and had pap smear examinations, etc) from then on until 2006. I used to have irritations and irregular menstruation until early 2007. I experienced almost all of the pain brought about by PID before. (note: my previous partner was a womanizer and obviously had std)
I am with my current boyfriend for almost 3 years now, and since the start of our relationship in august 2007, i never noticed any symptoms of the PID anymore -- no pelvic pains, no cramps, no irregular menstruation, no pain in sex or urination, no fever and no irritations/rashes.
My bf and i are intending to get married next year, and my question is, am i cured already of PID? totally? do i need to go to a doctor again for any check-up? i am worried now because we would like to have a baby when we get married and getting a check-up nowadays is very difficult since i am in saudi arabia and i have less freedom here to go out. i'm scared if i don't do it asap i will be infertile forever or have ectopic preg again. since my bf and i are so far away, we are abstaining from sex for 2 years. i really hope i am free from PID already and abstinence can also help, but we have been together for 2 years since 2007-2009, and i never got pregnant... am i cured or am i totally infertile..? please advise.. thank you very much.
March 30, 2010 - 4:44pmThis Comment
Anon,
Welcome to EmpowHer, and thank you so much for writing.
First, I'm so sorry that you had an ectopic pregnancy and such a tough time with pelvic inflammatory disease. It sounds like that was a rough time in your life in more than one way.
But congratulations on your recovery and on your planned marriage next year!!
Here are a few facts about PID that may help you know your situation better:
-- Yes, you were cured of your infection when you took the antibiotics and had the follow-up care. There's not a need to worry whether you still have that infection from way back then.
-- However, one in three women who have had PID do develop the infection again. All this means is that you have to be alert to the symptoms and, if you feel them, to make an appointment with your health-care provider right away to get it taken care of.
-- On fertility: The Merck Manual says that infertility happens in about 1 of 5 women who have had PID. But note this: infertility does not mean you cannot have a baby! It is defined as trying to get pregnant for a year without having it happen. So even if you have infertility issues, you may still get pregnant but just need some medical intervention (like fertility medicine, for instance) to help you.
Here's the page where this info is from:
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec22/ch248/ch248a.html
The CDC says that it is just 1 in 10 women that become infertile, but the chances rise the more times the infection recurs. Here's the CDC page:
http://www.cdc.gov/std/pid/stdfact-pid.htm#complications
So in other words, you might be fine, or you might have some challenges getting pregnant. Either way, the chances of infertility are between just 10% and 20%.
Does that help?
April 1, 2010 - 8:43amThis Comment
Hi, Pinkkbaby, and welcome. Thanks so much for your question.
I'm sorry you're experiencing so much pain. PID affects every individual differently -- some have very subtle symptoms and others experience serious discomfort.
Here's our EmpowHer encyclopedia page on PID:
https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid#symptoms
And here's another good page on it:
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/reproductive/sti/213.html
How long ago were you diagnosed? How long is the course of treatment you were given? It seems that if you've been given antibiotics and have been taking them as directed, your pain should not be worsening. Also, the previous page describes the symptom as "a dull pain," which is not quite what you described. If I were you I'd just put in a call to my doctor's office. Ask for the nurse or the physician's assistant and describe what you're feeling. They'll be able to tell you whether this is normal or whether you should make another appointment.
I sure hope you feel better soon.
September 15, 2009 - 5:35pmThis Comment