Hi, first I’d like to say that I’m pleased that this forum is here, because I have felt so alone on this issue! I hope my issue/story does not bore you, but any advice is greatly appreciated:
I have not yet been tested for PID, but I am very concerned that this may be what I have.
Briefly, in my earlier years, I had one abnormal PAP and HPV-had biopsy and cryo—were successful. Years later HPV, but later exams showed negative.
Here’s my issue: I’m actually 43 years old; I look a lot younger (like 30), and people are usually shocked when I tell them I’m 43. I’ve been thru 2 divorces, and now married to an awesome guy (37).
During my single years, I dated other guys and was pretty stupid in having unprotected sex. STUPID! And in retrospect, I was so NAÏVE! I was a good teenager, got married the first time right at 20, and it wasn’t until we separated (11 yrs later) that I started to have unprotected sex. Again, I don’t know what I was thinking and how I could be so stupid.
Last year my GYN told me I tested positive for Chlamydia, so started treatment—we also had my boyfriend (now husband) on treatment. We moved afterwards, so I had my new GYN retest me: negative for Chlamydia, but positive for Gonorrhea! I couldn’t believe it! So my (now husband) and I took medication; later I tested negative.
I have no idea how long I had these before I finally got treatment--could be months or year??!!
Well, here I am now married to this awesome guy, and we’re serious about starting a family. I’ve had a feeling that it’s not going to be easy for me to get pregnant since it hasn’t happened yet, so we’ve been seeing a fertility specialist:
My progesterone level was fine and my cycles are regular-28. I started 5-day dose of Clomiphene (helps stimulate ovulation). One day last week, and just yesterday I was having piercing pains in my right lower abdomen which subsided some when I would sit down, but standing up or walking around, the pains were pretty piercing. Last week I had the pains on/off for 5-6 hours; yesterday I noticed the pain radiated toward the middle of my stomach, and it felt more like a Charlie horse cramp. Or could it have been something I ate???
So when I saw the doctor again, I told him that I had been reading a lot on the Internet and was concerned I might have PID (?) He asked why I did not tell him that I had previously been diagnosed with the 2 STDS, and truthfully, I suppose I was still in denial, or I thought he wanted to know if I “currently” had anything. Who knows….
But as I read more about PID, I’ve had the symptoms, i.e. bleeding between periods, abdom. pain, heavy periods, but no nausea or fatigue.
From my readings, those 2 STDS can cause serious damage to the reproductive organs, and I’m so afraid it has in my case. I don’t see the point in paying out of our own pockets for fertility tests when my tubes may be blocked or I have this PID, in which case if I do get pregnant, which I don’t know if I can since he said that my FSH level was really high due to my age—which means chances of getting pregnant are slim…
But I don’t know if I can go through an ectopic pregnancy, which could be lethal.
I’m in perfect physical shape – work out every day – and although I may feel like I’m 30, my eggs are 43 years old.
I think what I need to do is to make an appt w/my PCP about getting checked for PID. I’m very scared and pray I don’t have it, but I need to be realistic.
Earlier the specialist told me that we could schedule an X-Ray of my tubes (but not until June since he’s out all of May—(wait…wait…wait…frustrating), and could see if my tubes are blocked/damaged. Apparently this procedure is painful.
In reading some of your messages, I realize that your PID is somewhat a “medical mystery,” as you’ve not had unprotected sex, although I’ve read that one could still get PID from a bacterial infection (???)
I just wish I had been more wise in my earlier years.
Any insight or advice from you is greatly appreciated!
Thanks for allowing me to share!