If I have PID, will I be able to have another child?

Q: I have just been diagnosed with PID. It has gotten to the point where I have a lot of pelvic pain, sometimes during intercourse. Will I be able to have another child?

A: PID, or pelvic inflammatory disease, is an infection of one or more organs in the upper part of the female genital tract. Most cases of PID are caused by bacterial infections from sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, that were not treated quickly enough. PID is considered a complication of STDs.

PID often causes fallopian tube inflammation and blockage. It can also affect the uterus, ovaries and other nearby organs, including the lining of the abdominal cavity. Besides the pain you describe, which can be severe, PID symptoms may include irregular menstrual bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge, fever, nausea and vomiting. Some women have few, if any, noticeable symptoms.

According to the National Institutes of Health, PID is this country’s leading cause of ectopic pregnancies, in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. This can be a life-threatening situation for the woman and it’s almost impossible for the fetus to survive.

The NIH says PID causes chr onic pelvic pain and scarring of reproductive tissue in about 20 percent of patients. Similarly, the agency says about 20 percent of women with PID will become infertile. Some experts believe those odds are much worse.

For the individual, the consequences may depend on how long she’s had the condition, as well as how many acute episodes she’s experienced. I can’t predict what will happen in your case, but if you’ve just been diagnosed and have had only one flare-up, your chances for a healthy pregnancy may be good. You should discuss this with your gynecologist.

Doctors usually treat PID with antibiotics to cure the infection. Sometimes multiple antibiotics are needed. It is crucial that women complete the full course of medication and return to the doctor for follow-up care to make sure the infection has been eradicated. Any sexual partners should also be treated for STDs.

Nancy Snyderman, M.D., F.A.C.S

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