Pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female upper reproductive
tract that can include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix (medicinenet.com).
“The cervix prevents bacteria that enter
the vagina from spreading to the internal reproductive organs. If the cervix is
exposed to a sexually transmitted disease -- such as gonorrhea and/or chlamydia
-- the cervix itself becomes infected and less able to prevent the spread of
organisms to the internal organs” (WebMD.com).
Sexual
contact is the main reason for contracting PID. Untreated sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs) such as gonorrhea or chlamydia are believed to be the primary
cause of most PID cases (medicinenet.com).
PID can
cause scarring of the pelvic organs. When scarring occurs in the fallopian
tubes, it can lead to an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy or infertility (medicinenet.com).
According
to WebMD, Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include:
- Lower abdominal pain
- Fever
- Rapid pulse
- Chills
- Back pain
- Pain during sex
- Abnormal vaginal discharge that is green or yellow in color, accompanied by an unusual odor
WebMD
also indicates that women are at greater risk for PID if they:
- Contracted a sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhea or chlamydia
- Started having sex at an early age
- Had PID previously
- Have multiple sex partners
Ladies,
this concludes the series, Sex Can Kill.
I hope you learned how to approach your
sex life more cautiously. And by no means, did I intend to spoil your views
toward sex. Sex can also be rewarding physically, emotionally and spiritually,
when it is with the right person, but we will table that for another
conversation.
XOXO,
