BV causeing PID and temporary infertility ???

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rachael on May 17, 2008 at 2:51pm

Well I'm glad they were able to get the ball rolling into figuring out the problem, that's awesome! That I know of, it's treatable so hopefully that means you'll be on your way for a BFP. I do think they can cause fertility problems, because when I go to my Dr. he has posters up of infertility causes and they're listed on there (it's the only reason I knew what you were talking about, hehe).

Good luck to you hon and I hope they can get it all worked out.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by amaila on May 17, 2008 at 3:41pm

Thanks for the reply Rachael :-)

Yes am so glad i finally went to the "quacks" to get the ball rolling !, it did feel great to discuss the problem, as i have a bad aversion to surgerys / hospitals etc.lol

i joined this site while still thinking whether to seek medical help, but as i also said was so glad the doctor / nurse were so helpful x, so when the nurse went through my medical history - medication, then did the swaps said looks straight away like BV, it seamed obvious to me that thats the likely link in my case :-), am now even happier your've said about seeing posters in your doctors surgery, so thank you very much for replying :)

even thouh the nusre said bv can lead to pid, she did say does not cause infertility, but she is a nurse and not my doctor or a specialist in that field, i bet tests do come back posiive for it !, will still see the specialist in infertility as always best to be sure and do not want to second guess and assume anti-biotics will work in my situation.

But that is such good news, so thank you again :), as was thinking surely any baterial infection or hormonal inbalance / inflamation in any area of the reprodctive sysyem will effect a persons chances of TTC along with stress etc can, as we are all indivual our body's react diffent.

my fiancee will be in hospital soon, so hopefuly around june he will be fit and well again, in the meantime i can keep myself occupied getting to the bottom of my infertility issues, will also give me time to think and concentrate on his and mine different values on life and lifestyle etc ! lol, once we sort that out."henpecking here i come" ha,ha

ow wow i do hope it is going to be that simple for me :-)

i wish you all the luck in the world in TTC as well :)

Thanks x
love amanda x

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nikkihope on May 17, 2008 at 4:50pm

I have PID but what is BV???

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by star101 on May 17, 2008 at 6:07pm

bacterial vaginosis, a bit like thrush

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jennee on May 17, 2008 at 7:19pm

hmm..
id say once is a coinsedence, twice is a pattern. maybe your on to something.

what i have learnt in my many trips to the docs for numerous things- they dont know everything. sure they have test results and meds, but we are the ones who walk around with our bodies 24/7. we never get a break from them!!

if you feel something is true but the doc is not sure... Id question him as to why he doesnt agree.

you said it best- you know your body- youve had it 37 yrs

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by naomi on May 29, 2008 at 6:38pm

hi what is PID??

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by amaila on May 29, 2008 at 8:05pm

hi there

.....and welcome OID is pelvic inflamatort diesase, i am not sure whatthe symtoms are as about to be tested for it, am told its quite common in fertility issues, i think Nikki has it, so you could message her and ask.

Love Amanda

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by star101 on May 29, 2008 at 9:03pm

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is the term used to describe any infection in a woman’s upper genital tract or reproductive organs. An infection can develop in the fallopian tubes (salpingitis), ovaries (oophoritis), lining of the womb (endometritis), the pelvic tissue surrounding the reproductive organs (peritonitis), or a combination of these. When diagnosed early, PID can be successfully treated with antibiotics and rest.

If PID goes untreated, it can lead to serious long-term complications, including chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy (when an embryo begins to develop in the fallopian tube) or infertility. Unfortunately, many women don’t know they have PID until permanent damage has been done.

Symptoms

The symptoms of PID vary from woman to woman, and some women have no obvious symptoms at all. When symptoms are present, they may include:

dull pain in the lower abdomen (on one side or both) that may get worse when you walk or move about
pain during or after sex
bleeding between periods or after sex
lower back pain (either dull or sharp)
a sense of pressure or swelling in the lower abdomen
fever (often with chills)
feeling tired or unwell
abnormal vaginal discharge
nausea, vomiting and dizziness
leg pain
increased period pain
increased pain at ovulation
burning or pain when urinating urinating more frequently than usual, or feeling that you can’t empty your bladder
Symptoms may appear suddenly, they may come and go, or they may be constant. Many women first notice symptoms of PID during, or just after, their period. If you are concerned that you may have PID, or if you have more than one of the symptoms listed above, talk to your doctor or go to a GUM (genito-urinary medicine) clinic. See Resources for more information.

Causes

PID develops when bacteria (germs) get into a woman’s internal reproductive organs. There are a number of ways this can happen. The internal organs are usually protected by the cervix, which blocks bacteria in the vagina from moving up into the womb. But when the cervix is open (e.g. during menstruation or at ovulation), or if the cervix itself becomes infected, bacteria have a greater chance of getting through and causing infection. Bacteria may also get into the reproductive organs during pelvic surgery or invasive procedures that disrupt the cervix, such as abortion, childbirth or insertion of an IUD (intra-uterine device). Bacteria from severe appendicitis can lead to PID if it spreads to the pelvic tissues, but this is uncommon.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea

PID can be caused by many types of bacteria, but most cases are caused by the bacteria from Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea, two sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Both infect a woman’s cervix and can damage its surface, making it easier for bacteria to get to the internal reproductive organs.

Chlamydia — Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world, and in the UK, it is the number one cause of PID. It is estimated that as many as one in ten sexually active women under the age of 25 may be infected with chlamydia, and while it is less common in older age groups, the number of cases in people over 25 is on the rise. Chlamydia can live in the body without causing any symptoms for months or years. Up to 70% of women and 50% of men with chlamydia have no noticeable symptoms, but when symptoms are present, in women they are:

pain or burning when urinating
abnormal vaginal discharge
bleeding between periods
It is estimated that 40% of women who have chlamydia will develop PID. PID caused by chlamydia often produces very mild symptoms, if any at all (called silent or subclinical PID). This does not mean the infection is less serious than other forms of PID, but does mean that the infection may go undetected until permanent damage has been done.

Gonorrhoea — Like chlamydia, gonorrhoea is found most commonly among teenagers and those in their 20s, but recent public health figures show an increase in gonorrhoea among 35 to 44 year-olds. Up to 50% of women (and 10% of men) who become infected with gonorrhoea have no symptoms. But when symptoms do occur, in women they are:

yellow or greenish vaginal discharge
pain or burning when urinating?
PID caused by bacteria from gonorrhoea tends to cause sudden and severe symptoms, including high fever and abdominal pain (called acute PID)
Other sources of infection

Other bacteria commonly found in the vagina can lead to PID if they get past the cervix and into the internal reproductive organs. This is most likely to happen if your cervix has been damaged, if you have had PID before, or if your cervix is opened during a surgical procedure.

Pelvic surgery — Any surgery carries the risk of infection, and pelvic surgery is no exception. Bacteria may be introduced from the outside or may be spread internally from one organ to another.

IUD (intra-uterine device) — When the cervix is opened to insert an IUD, bacteria from the vagina have an opportunity to get into the womb. Studies show that the risk of developing PID is increased for about one month following IUD insertion.

Childbirth, miscarriage and abortion — The cervix is dilated (opened) during vaginal childbirth, miscarriage and abortion, and this creates an opportunity for bacteria to make their way into the internal reproductive organs.

Before undergoing any procedure that disturbs the cervix, you should be screened for chlamydia, even if you are in a monogamous relationship or think you are unlikely to have chlamydia.

Risk factors

Sexually active women under the age of 25 have the highest risk of developing PID, with most cases occurring in teenagers. This may be because young women are more likely than older women to have multiple sexual partners and practice unsafe sex – two high risk behaviours for getting PID (see below). Another age-related factor that may influence the development of PID is cervical mucus. Thick cervical mucus can protect the cervix from some forms of bacteria (such as gonorrhoea), but young women in their teens tend to have thin mucus that is less protective.

Sexual activity — Having multiple sexual partners is one of the main risk factors for developing PID. The more partners you have penetrative sex with, the more likely you are to be exposed to bacteria that can lead to PID, particularly if you are not using barrier contraception – a condom, femidom, diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide. The rate of PID is lower among lesbians than heterosexual women, and this is probably related to a lower incidence of the STIs that can lead to PID. Some studies suggest that having sex during your period may increase your chances of developing PID. This is believed to be because the cervix is open during menstruation and the presence of blood may help some bacteria to multiply.

IUD — The IUD was once thought to increase a woman’s risk of PID significantly, but recent research suggests it may be the process of inserting the IUD that increases risk, not the IUD itself. Current studies show that risk is increased mainly during the month following insertion, and after that, risk is related more to sexual activity and exposure to STIs than to the use of an IUD.

The Pill — There is conflicting information about whether the Pill increases or decreases a woman’s risk of PID. The Pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, but it does have a thickening effect on cervical mucus that may prevent some bacteria from getting through the cervix.

Other risk factors — Once you’ve had PID, you have an increased risk of getting it again. Smoking, douching and cocaine-use also have been linked to an increased risk of PID, but more research is needed to investigate these links.

Prevention

The best way to prevent PID is to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections.

Always use a barrier method of contraception during sex. Condoms and femidoms offer the most protection when used correctly and consistently. A diaphragm or cervical cap (used with a spermicide) may also help prevent gonorrhoea and chlamydia, but not other STIs.

Get regular sexual health check-ups. This will help to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of STIs. Screening for gonorrhoea and chlamydia, however, is not always part of a routine check-up. Tell the doctor or nurse if you want to be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Make sure you are tested for chlamydia and gonorrhoea before any procedure that opens the cervix (for example:abortion, IUD insertion, vaginal childbirth).

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by naomi on May 30, 2008 at 2:50pm

hi everyone, hope you are all, i wonder if anyone could help me as im slightly worried.
iwas suppost to ov this week and have been using test strips and there has been no sign and i have also got a dull pain in my lower ab which hurts when i sit down or walk and move about. im trying to convince myself i have trapped wind or something but it has been like this for about 4 days x x

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by amaila on June 15, 2008 at 6:05am

hi naomi

im no med expert but it might be that your body is trying to ov, i get that alot most months somtimes until af, i tested this month ov, my af is reg i did home test on ovarian reseve and quilaity there all alright, but you cn have infections that cause pains like that , i'd see your doc xxx

i hope your alright

love amanda

▶ Reply to This

▶ Reply to This