Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

[niclou]

I'm 26 and have been with my fiance for almost 4 years. I have been faithful the whole time.

Last year I went for a routine smear test, and for the first time I was asked if I wanted them to check for chlamydia too, so I accepted.

The smear came back as normal, however I got called back as I had chlamydia

I took the medication and told my fiance to get checked, as well as my previous sexual partner. My previous partner was all clear so it must have come from my fiance.

So, without accusing my fiance of cheating, then I must assume that I have had chlamydia for 3 years, which surely means it must have turned into PID??

Thinking back, the only symptom I can now remember that I had was discomfort while in certain sexual positions, like air was being forced deep within me, however I really didn't think much of it. I actually thought it must be trapped air or something. I can't remember any other symptoms.

I've tried talking to doctors and nurses, however none will give me definite answers. From websites, I gather that it critical its treated immediately, so I'm petrified that after 3 years there's no hope for me?

Recently, probably because I've been thinking about, I've been experiencing pains and aches and twinges from my lower abdoman. I've been back for swabs which came back all clear and was sent for an ultrasound, however that wasn't much help, it showed that I didn't have any cysts however couldn't tell if my fallopian tubes have been damaged. She said they couldn't test for that until I'd been trying to conceive unsuccessfully for a year.

So really, I was just wondering if it is actually possible to have chlamydia and/or PID for 3 years without knowing, and whether anyone else has had it for this long, and whether all the websites are scare mongering and it is likely that I will have children.

I can remember one of the nurses I spoke to said that some women have chlamydia for 5-10 years and only ever find out when they can't conceive, so 3 years might be ok, however I'm not sure whether she was just trying to make me feel better.

I think ultimately I just hate not knowing. I'm not ready for children at the mo, I was thinking about waiting another 3-4 years so I can finish doing everything I want to do before being a mum, however I would like to know now, just so that I don't have a massive cloud of doubt and uncertainty hanging over me until then. My fiance doesn't seem that concerned about it, he's got 2 children already, so its not as if he'll be missing out on fatherhood, however to me, being a mum is everything, something that I've thought of all my life.

Any experiences anyone can share with me about having it for many years without knowing would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Nicola

[katty1]

Hi ive just read this post so hope its ok to answer ...yes you could of been having episodes of PID for all those years they jsut could of been mild episodes . But it is very important your partner also takes the medication to clear the STI ...if you suspect your fiance of being unfaithful and i understand you are engaged its imprtant that hes aware you dont catch any more STI imperitive if you have had PID . Condoms can help prevent sti ..waiting till you have both finished the full course of sti medicine before you have intercourse or oral sex whatever is important ...as if you dont there is a risk ...hope you get sorted out soon best wishes katty x

[niclou]

Hi Katty

Thanks for getting back to me.

My fiance was tested too, however surprisingly it came back all clear. I'm not sure whether it was just because he hadn't followed the proper instructions for giving a urine sample or whether he lied, however I wasn't having any of it, I spoke to my doctor who said to said him to her and she'll prescribe him antibiotics anyway, so she did and he took them, so we're both clear now.

In all honesty, I spoke to him about and said that I probably would have prefered that he cheated on me recently, than the thought that I might have had it for 3 years and be infertile because of it, however he promises that he has been faithful.

Is it possible then that I could have had PID, then it cleared up on its own, and then came back, or is it likely that I had it continuously for 3 years?

How long do you think you had it for? I'm just worried as haven't been able to find anyone who may have suffered for it for years without knowing, which is making me even more worried that I am infertile.

Anyway, thanks again for getting back to me.

Nic xx

[katty1]

Its ok Nic , no need to thank me ..its a pleasure ..first im glad that you both took the medicine for the chlamydia and your clear the nurse will be checking in case you *possibly* might have cought that agin but shes only checking nic, which is obviously better than not checking .. Dont be worried that just because you had chlamydia you think you might be infertile ..unless you have tried to have a baby and you have been having regular sex for a year and nothings happened it would be worth looking into but there are millions of women who have had chlamy young and not so young like me ...at my ripe old age of 39 ..and they have been fine and gone on to have babies women have it in pregnancy its found when they do examinations and i think they test pregnant women for that they take a few tabs for it and they are fine..but back to what you said its important they do treat PID if they suspect it and if you have been having these "niggling" pains or anything similar to some of the other things or symptoms i had a little chat about or you see in the symptoms part Overview ...causes ect have a little read of that that is on the PID main section ... Im not quiet sure why the hospital or the drs have not started you already on this medicine for PID the antibiotics as it seems you feel quite sure as i did that you have it and you kind of know if you have so id talk to them nic, and perhaps say what about me staring PID antibiotics i dont feel well and its getting worse you have to push them a bit ...unless it comes on all of a sudden and its severe acute attack and you need to be in hospital as i was .
Everyones experience can be different, some have mild PID others have got to the stage where they feel very very ill to collapse point ..it does need to be trated niccy , and the less time they delay with that treatment the better ...but in answer to your question could i have had PID for that length of time ...yes ...but i used the word episodes meaning your not ill all the time you have little bouts of feeling ill but you ccarnt put your finger on what it is ...i had it for a couple of years but if you had a termination or any other gyne thing done or operation you can have it from then it sounds like you could have some infection in there and thats what the nurses are helping out on but i would go to the drs and dont delay if you need to speak to another dr , female or well woman nurse ask them niccy as this needs to be attended to and put the question how about me taking the antibiotics for PID to your dr the hospital ect ...i was started on mine within two hours by the A and E department i went straight up after bleeding, if you are feeling this sick niccy they were good with me although i had to go to a and e several times they did find it on the spot ...you could always go and they will take you in and tell them you had untreated chlamydia ...but now its been treated but but it had gone on a long time without treatment and you have pelvic pain and you are feeling unwell all the time ...after an examination or whatever the nurrses and doctors wouldmake that decision whether to start you on the courses of antibiotics you require to clear your PID if it is ...nobody goes to A and E if they dont have a good reason and sometimes i think with PID thats what you have to do ..and they will NOT be angry they are good people and they will help you niccy ...im just speaking of my experience . I know its hard try not to panic , they are seeing to you , but if i could give one piece of advice that i hope will help dont read too much info on sti and infertility ..it jsut frightens it dosent alway mean that at all try not to worry ,.. sending hug and hope you get some help for this as soon as poss Katty x

[Shaz20]

Hi there

I went through the same thing also it happened when I was young I was 16 I fell pregnant with an ex of mines I was with for a year we had problems and when I told him about my pregnancy he asked me to abort it. Was only young and scared what to do so I did I thought I had long time to have kids. I was 17 when I aborted it and I didn’t go for my check ups I had enough of the hospitals just left it I got together with my partner I’m with now when I was 17 and I was getting abdominal pains also discomfort during sex I didn’t know what it was so I left it. I eventually told him and he asked me to go check it out when I went they told me I had PID so I must have had it after the abortion I have and I didn’t realize. They gave me medication I took it and I told my partner too also he told me he did which I found out later he didn’t. A year later I was getting vaginal discharge and more discomforts I went back and it was PID and thrush they gave me pills to take I finished all mines and this time I took my partner to get his medication. Now a month later having finished the medication I started suffering again from pains which I’m going to talk to the doctor about on Wednesday to ask him to refer me to the hospital. It is really scary just thinking of the fact you may never have kids due to something you did in the past still haunting you back. I know how your going through, I love kids and I don’t know what I would do if I found out I wouldn’t be able to have kids. I just wanted to know what they do when you go into hospital what tests and how come the nurse couldn’t tell you whether you could or not. I’m only 20 so would they do a smear test on me.

I desperately need some advice please asap.

Shaz xx