How Often Does PID Cause Infertility?

 Written by Ben Bunting: BA(Hons), PGCert.

--

For men and women, there are many reasons why you might struggle to conceive a child. These could be small, natural issues, such as stress or poor general health. 

Alternatively, the problem could be caused by a more serious condition. One such disorder is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, also known as PID. 

PID is a common condition that is diagnosed in 1 million women in the United States every year and can cause infertility if not treated promptly and correctly. 

If you’re not aware of PID, then you should learn what it is and how it could affect your chances of having a baby with your partner. 

In this article, we’ll cover 

• What Is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?
• How Does PID Affect Women?
• Can You Prevent PID?
• What Can You Do To Improve Your Fertility After PID?
• Conclusion

Read on, and we’ll discuss this disease and how it could affect your chances of conceiving a child naturally, so you’re informed. 

What Is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, or PID, is a disorder that affects a woman’s reproductive organs found around her pelvis. These organs include the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and cervix.

The infection is caused by a variety of types of bacteria, including the same ones that lead to sexually transmitted diseases.

Some of the most common STDs, including Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, can lead to PID.

The infection can also be caused by damage to the cervix following a surgical procedure such as an abortion or the insertion of a contraceptive device into the area.

In many cases, it can be difficult for doctors to pinpoint the exact cause of the infection, and it could be the result of various types of bacteria.

PID primarily affects women who are sexually active, particularly those who have multiple sexual partners and regularly have unprotected sex.

How Does PID Affect Women?

PID can affect a woman’s reproductive organs and, if not caught and treated promptly, lead to long-term problems, including infertility.

Some common symptoms of PID include: 

• Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
• Increased or abnormal vaginal discharge
• Fever and exhaustion
• Painful sex
• Pain when urinating
• Irregular menstruation and increased bleeding during your period
• Vomiting
• Fainting and nausea

If you experience any of these symptoms, in any combination, then you must visit your doctor immediately to get a diagnosis. 

Once they’ve ascertained if you have PID, your doctor can discuss treatment options. Often, the treatment for PID is a course of antibiotics, but on some rare occasions, it might require surgery. 

Can You Prevent PID?

While it isn’t an exact science, there are some ways that you can reduce your chances of getting PID. These include: 

• Avoiding unprotected sex with unknown partners
• Using condoms when you’re not trying for a baby
• Limiting the number of sexual partners you have
• Getting regular tests for STDs
• Wiping from front to back to reduce the amount of faecal matter and bacteria entering the vagina
• Never using a douche as a method of cleaning yourself

These methods aren’t exact, and you can still get PID when you’re doing them, but they should help you to reduce your chances of getting an infection. 

What Can You Do To Improve Your Fertility After PID?

Once you’ve received treatment for PID, you can continue to try for a baby.

The process might take time, but eventually, you should be able to get pregnant, as PID usually only causes infertility in 10% of women who get the infection. 

➡️READ: Natural treatments for male infertility

While your body is adjusting after the treatment and overcoming any residual after-effects you might be experiencing, there are ways that women can improve their chances of getting pregnant. 

These include: 

• Eat a balanced diet high in antioxidants and other useful nutrients
• Avoid alcohol, narcotics and smoking
• Be physically active
• Lose excess weight
• Cut down on caffeine
• Reduce your stress levels where possible
• Get enough sleep
• Raise your legs in the air after sex (although there's no scientific evidence it works)

Additionally, you and your partner could consider taking supplements. Natural products such as Fertiligy can help men to improve their body’s production of testosterone. 

There are also many products out there that can help you to boost your body’s production of estrogen and bolster your chances of getting pregnant. 

Conclusion

Because PID can cause infertility in one in ten women it’s vital that women work to prevent the condition and, if they get it, that they work to treat it promptly.

If you’re unsure about if you or your partner has PID, then consult your doctor immediately. They can diagnose the condition and offer the necessary treatments to deal with it where applicable. 

Once you understand the cause of your infertility and have undergone treatment, if the issue is PID, then you can start trying for a baby again. 

After the trauma of surgery and the stress of dealing with infertility, it might take time for you and your partner’s bodies to adjust. 

So, be patient and employ natural remedies to improve your chances of conceiving and understand when you are most fertile during the month. For men, that might mean taking supplements such as Fertiligy to boost your body’s natural production of testosterone and improve your energy levels. 

Our scientifically- designed formula can help to improve your chances of conceiving and overall health, so you have the energy you need to live your best life. 

If you still struggle to conceive, then you should visit your doctor. If your female partner was one of the 10% of women for whom PID leads to infertility, then there are alternative ways to deal with it.

These techniques include IVF or surrogacy, but both rely on the man’s ability to produce mobile and fertile sperm, so make sure you keep taking Fertiligy and working hard to ensure your sperm count and quality is as good as possible. 

To stay informed about fertility and how infections and lifestyle problems could affect it, read more articles from our blog. 

Our experts regularly add new information to keep you up to date on the latest thinking on fertility and new ways that you can boost your chances of becoming a parent.