Patient's question:
Does pelvic inflammatory disease cause infertility? Recently, I heard someone say that pelvic inflammatory disease can lead to infertility. Is that true?Doctor's answer:
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) primarily manifests as bilateral tubal inflammation. Over time, the openings of the fallopian tubes, especially the end that receives the egg (known as the fimbriae), may become partially or completely blocked. It can also cause adhesions in the inner lining of the fallopian tubes due to inflammation, narrowing or blocking the lumen. This hinders the passage of eggs, sperm, or fertilized eggs, leading to infertility.A yellow discharge may occur, and severe PID can spread to the pelvic peritoneum, uterus, and surrounding tissues of the cervix. Ultimately, these organs and tissues may harden and become immobile, particularly the fallopian tubes losing their soft, motile physiological function, becoming rigid and twisted, with the lumen completely blocked to the point of being untreatable.