Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is a serious condition where a female’s reproductive organs become infected and inflamed. It can spread from one organ to the rest of the reproductive organs and affect the tissues around the organs as well.

Many women do not know about PID but it is quite common. It affects 1 million women in the United States a year and 250,000 are hospitalized due to the infection.

Causes

PID is most commonly caused by gonorrhea and Chlamydia, two bacterial sexually transmitted infections. The bacteria are transmitted through bodily fluids. Therefore, young sexually active women are the most at risk. However, women at any age can develop this infection. Also, women with multiple sex partners are at a higher risk as well as those that use an intrauterine device as a form of birth control.

Symptoms

PID is not easily diagnosed because the signs are not always apparent in many patients. These symptoms include:

• Severe pain in lower abdomen
• Fever, nausea and vomiting
• Irregular period
• Discharge from vagina
• Back pain
• Painful intercourse and urination

These symptoms are worse at the end of the menstrual cycle and the first few days after the cycle is over.

Why is PID so dangerous?

PID is an infection and infections get worse over time if not treated. The infection can destroy the tissue that makes up the female reproductive organs. This can cause severe scarring and chronic pain in the pelvic region. This infection can also make a woman infertile. The reproductive organs become inflamed. Therefore, eggs cannot move through the fallopian tubes efficiently and the sperm cannot fertilize it.

In some horrible cases, women have become pregnant. Unfortunately, the egg can become trapped in the fallopian tube or in another part of the reproductive area that it should not be. The sperm can sometimes get to the egg and it becomes fertilized. A small embryo will begin to grow in the small space and not survive the conditions. This is called an ectopic pregnancy. This can potentially rupture the fallopian tube and cause severe issues. It can cause internal bleeding and even death. Women cannot reproduce in this condition and are infertile.

PID needs to be treated as soon as possible by a healthcare professional. It is a serious disease and needs to be taken care of before it causes permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive organs.

Prevention

Since the infection is caused by bacteria that are transmitted through bodily fluids, the best prevention is abstinence.

However, if abstinence is not a person’s first choice, the use of protection, such as condoms, during sex is another option. Trying to prevent the spread of the bacteria will work as well, however, it is not 100 percent effective.  THE PILL DOES NOT PREVENT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES!

 How important do you think it is for young women to be aware of PID as well as other reproductive infections?

An IUD (IntraUterine Device) is a small, T-shaped plastic device that is inserted into a woman’s uterus by a healthcare professional that is used to prevent pregnancy. The IUD’s available in the U.S. release a hormone called progestin, which prevents ovaries from releasing eggs. The IUD affects the way the sperm move, which makes them unable to join with an egg. It also thickens the cervical mucus making it difficult for sperm to pass through the cervix to the egg.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

The IUD does not protect against sexually transmitted infections and should not be used as a means of protection.

An IUD can be used for 5 years and sometimes more depending on the brand.

ParaGard and Mirena are the only two IUD brands offered in the US.

Less than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year while using an IUD.

Never attempt to remove an IUD yourself. A healthcare professional can remove or replace an IUD for you. Attempting to remove an IUD yourself can cause severe damage.

You should not use an IUD if you are pregnant or have a sexually transmitted infection. Discuss with your physician whether or not an IUD is right for you.

Have you or someone you know had an IUD? Share your experiences. The lessons from your story may answer another person’s questions.

What it is and how it works

The birth control patch is a small, square patch that sticks to your skin. The patch releases hormones through the skin that enter the blood stream. These hormones prevent ovulation, or releasing of an egg to be fertilized, from occurring. The patch makes the mucus produced in the cervix thicken. The thick mucus makes it difficult for sperm to pass through the cervix to the eggs.

Studies have suggested that the patch is as effective as the birth control pill when used properly.

How to use the patch

The patch should be applied to the skin once a week for three weeks. On the fourth week, a patch should not be worn to enable the menstrual cycle to occur. Once the menstrual cycle is complete, a patch should be placed on the body once again.

The patch should be placed either on the abdomen, upper arm, upper torso or buttocks. The patch should never be applied to the breasts.

While wearing the patch, you can swim, shower and exercise. The patch is able to get wet and still remain in place on the body.

Things not to do with the patch

When reapplying the patch, never place it on the same spot as the old one. It can cause skin irritation. A patch should never be placed on red, irritated or cut skin.

Never place more than one patch on your skin at a time. Make sure to always remove the old patch before the new one is placed on the body.

Never remove the patch and place it back on the skin because it will lose the important stick factor. Never trim or tape the patch to your body.

Do not apply the patch over makeup, lotion or any other skincare products. It will not stick as well.

Dangers of wearing the patch

There are some health risks associated with the patch. The most serious are blood clots, heart attack and stroke. The chance of these health risks occurring increase with smoking cigarettes.

The patch also releases more hormones than the pill.

Have any of you had an experience with the patch?  Would you recommend it to other women?

Why should a condom always be worn during sexual contact?

A condom is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the HIV virus during sexual contact.

A latex condom creates a barrier that is 98% effective in preventing pregnancy, as well as protects against bacteria and certain viruses.

Condoms can reduce the risk of HPV and the risk of cervical cancer.

Condom Facts You Should Know

-           Condoms should be worn anytime there is sexual contact, whether it is vaginal, anal or oral.

-           An animal skin condom is not as effective as a latex condom because there are holes large enough for the HIV virus to get through. Latex condoms offer better protection! 

-           Never use an old condom. Always check the expiration date. If a condom is expired do not use it, because the chance of the condom ripping increases.

-           Do not use two condoms at once. The friction between the two condoms rubbing together can cause a break.

-           Never reuse a condom.

-           Make sure to get all of the air out of the condom once it is applied to the penis. Air bubbles can cause the condoms to break during intercourse.

-           Not wearing a condom can have a negative effect on your life. Remember that wearing a condom is easier (and cheaper!)  than taking care of a baby or treating an STD.

-      If you are a teenager and it sounds like everything I’ve just said is a bit too much to handle, you can decide to NOT have sex and move on to other important issues…

Controversies

One controversy surrounding condoms is whether or not they should be available to teens under the age of 18 and whether or not schools should make them readily available.

A study in Massachusetts would suggest that condoms should be distributed in schools.  In that state, many high schools make condoms available to students.  The state also has a teen pregnancy rate of 22 per 1,000 girls—a rate far below the national average.

What are your thoughts?  Do you think high school students should have access to contraceptives in their schools?  Teens- do you think that access to contraceptives would make a difference in you life?

How they Work

THE BEST WAY TO NOT GET PREGNANT IS TO NOT HAVE SEX. PERIOD.

But if you decide you want to become sexually active, protect yourself- wisely.

The birth control pill is an effective form of contraception if taken properly (everyday around the same time of day).   Taking a medicine the same time everyday can be difficult.  Be honest with yourself about yourself!  If the pill is not for you, there are other options…

Birth control is essentially synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.  When estrogen levels peak, your body knows to release an egg and begin the process of ovulation.  The pill keeps these hormones level, thus prohibiting the release of an egg.  If there is no egg, then your body cannot get pregnant.  Birth control pills also make the lining of your uterus unable to support the implantation of a fertilized egg.

Pros

Despite the obvious benefit of preventing an unexpected pregnancy, many birth control pills cause other benefits such as clear skin, and lighter, less painful menstrual cycles.  They can also give women a chance to prepare themselves for a planned pregnancy by becoming healthy and quitting bad habits, such as smoking. 

Cons

Birth control pills can have some negative effects.  There is an increased risk for blood clots in women who smoke or have diabetes.  They can also have some irritating side effects such as bloating, water retention and nausea.  One of the most off-putting side effects reported is weight gain, though most doctors maintain that this is just a myth and that with diet and exercise, this is not an issue.

Some helpful tips

Despite the wide use of birth control, The Center for Disease and Control Prevention still claims that almost half of the pregnancies that occur in the U.S. are unexpected and another study claims that nearly a third of the women who begin birth control will stop within the year, usually do to financial or insurance issues.

Unfortunately, this is something that I deal with in my office every day, especially in young girls.  If you are under the age of 18 and are considering becoming sexually active (or already are), I suggest that you have a conversation with a health professional or a responsible adult to discuss your options.  Most doctors would be happy to discuss options with you over the phone if you are unable to come into the office.

For women over the age of 18 who are considering using birth control pills, I suggest trying a generic brand to cut the cost.  They are just as effective and sometimes less than half the price.  Finally, for parents of young women, it is important to begin this dialogue early.  If you suspect that your child may be sexually active, it is important to talk to them about protection and try not to seem judgmental.  It is more important for them to receive the protection they need for their decisions than to make a mistake that could have been prevented.

Here are some places in the New Orleans area where you can find advice and prescriptions for birth control pills:

Planned Parenthood

4018 Magazine St.

8200 Hampson St.

Family Planning Clinic

3308 Tulane Ave.

St. Vincent’s Maternity Clinic

1510 Veterans Blvd.