Can pelvic inflammatory disease cause infertility?

Pelvic inflammatory disease is a common gynecological disease among women. This disease brings a lot of harm to women in life. Severe cases can even lead to infertility, so women must pay attention to it. Let’s talk about it below.

Gynecologists point out that the biggest complication of pelvic inflammatory disease is infertility and dysmenorrhea. Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease is often manifested as bilateral salpingitis. Over time, the opening of the fallopian tube, especially the end that receives the egg, called the fimbria, will be partially or completely closed. The inner mucosa of the fallopian tube may also adhere due to inflammation, causing the lumen to narrow or be closed. This will hinder the passage of eggs, sperm or fertilized eggs, leading to infertility and increasing the chance of ectopic pregnancy. Severe pelvic inflammatory disease can spread to the pelvic peritoneum, uterus and tissues beside the cervix, eventually causing these organs and tissues to harden and become inactive, especially the fallopian tubes lose their soft peristaltic physiological properties, become stiff and twisted, and the lumen is completely blocked to the point where it cannot be cured. There are many causes of dysmenorrhea, and pelvic inflammatory disease is one of the important causes.

Gynecologists also pointed out that not only pelvic inflammatory disease, but many common clinical gynecological inflammations may lead to infertility. Therefore, female friends should undergo regular gynecological examinations. Once inflammation is found, they should go to a regular specialist hospital in time to avoid delaying the disease.

How to check for pelvic inflammatory disease

Be prepared for the inspection

Before the examination, the patient must first empty his/her bladder, lie on his/her back on the examination bed, expose his/her vulva, relax his/her abdominal muscles, and cooperate closely with the examination.

Doctor's visit

The patient's vulva can be observed directly, while the vagina and cervix must be dilated with a speculum before examination, but this is only for married people. This examination mainly observes the vulva, labia majora and minora, the development of pubic hair, whether the hymen is intact, the color of the vaginal mucosa, the nature of secretions, and the presence of inflammation, ulcers, tumors and deformities.

Doctor palpation

The doctor inserts his middle finger and index finger into the patient's vagina, and cooperates with the other hand to press on the upper abdominal wall to feel the uterus, ovaries and pelvic condition. This is routinely used for married women.