What are the odds of having PID and not knowing it?!
Question:
What are the odds of having PID and not knowing it?
I had chlamydia for five months and didn't know it until my ex told me he cheated and he had it too...Got that taken care of but I've read that if you get chlamydia you have a higher chance of getting Pelvic Inflammatory disease. I worry that I could have gotten it and not known it. I've had a couple of paps since then and they've never told me I had any problems but is it possible it could be overlooked? and for those of you that did have PID how did you find out you had it??
Answers:
PID is a very significant public health problem. Up to 2/3 of cases go unrecognized, and underreporting is common.
It is estimated that 10-15% of women of reproductive age have had one episode of PID *
The likelihood of complications from PID (tubal factor infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain) is DIRECTLY related to how many epsiodes of PID were experienced. The more episodes of PID the increased likelihood of complications.**
Abdominal pain may be a clinical feature of many disorders and the symptoms of PID may overlap with other gynecologic, gastrointestinal, urinary, and musculoskeletal disorders.
There is no single historical, physical, or labaratory finding that is both sensitive and specific for a PID diagnosis***
-only 1/3 of women with PID have a temp above 38degrees Celsius ****
-the clinical diagnosis of PID is imprecise and clinicians must have a high index of suspicion (meaning they must always carefully consider PID with a variety of symptoms.
-negative lab results do not rule out PID
-a normal ultrasound study does not rule out a diagnosis of PID (though it may aid in diagnosis if tubo-ovarian abscess is suspected
Like was posted earlier, Pap smears have no way of detecting PID. PID is an infection of the female upper genital tract involving any combination of the endometrium, fallopian tubes, pelvic peritoneum, and surrounding structures.
PID can be caused by a variety of factors (bacteria, genital tract mycoplasmas), not just STIs.
It is important that you speak with your healthcare practitioner about your concern. They should be able to help you.
Hope this helps.