STIs and Women
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The female anatomy increases a woman's susceptibility to STIs. STIs threaten the fertility of women related to biological factors that increase their vulnerability. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the leading causes of female infertility. PID occurs when bacteria move upward from a woman's vagina or cervix into her uterus, fallopian tubes, and other reproductive organs. Several organisms can cause PID, but many cases are associated with gonorrhea and chlamydia. Sexually active women in their childbearing years are at most risk, and those under age 25 are more likely to develop PID than those older than 25. Because the cervix of teenage girls and young women is not fully mature, their susceptibility to the STIs that are linked to PID are increased. Women with repeated episodes of PID are more likely to suffer infertility, ectopic pregnancy, or chronic pelvic pain than those who have had just one episode.
Symptoms of PID vary from none, to subtle and mild, to severe. PID is difficult to diagnose because of the absent or mild symptoms, and many episodes go undetected. Because there is no precise test for PID, a diagnosis is usually based on clinical findings. Symptoms of PID include lower abdominal pain, fever, unusual vaginal discharge that may have a foul order, painful intercourse, painful urination, irregular menstrual bleeding, and, rarely, pain in the upper right abdomen. PID can be cured with several types of antibiotics.