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    Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Female -- Vaginal Discharge/Infections > PID and symptoms
    Posted on: 01/22/2008

    Question

    I was diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease 2 years ago; I did not know I had this until I was admitted in the hospital due to a kidney infection. I cannot afford medical help or anything like that so this is just a place where I can hopefully get some answers. Lately I have been hurting at the lower part of my abdomen and it gets worse during sex (I've been with the same person for 3 years), and I also have a thick white discharge that is sort of foamy. Is this normal? I've never had any kind of disease or anything like that, but I've always had problems with my reproductive system. I can't get pregnant due to my pelvic inflammatory disease. I'm still confused about how I have that because I was told it comes from chlamydia and such. Can you please explain this discharge to me and what I can do about my pelvic inflammatory disease? Like I said I cannot get medical help due to my income and I have no insurance. Thank you.

    Answer

    PID is most commonly caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia, which are both sexually transmitted, meaning you likely got the infection from your sexual partner. Most people do not have symptoms and transmit the infection to a sexual partner without knowing it.

    I hope your partner was tested and treated when you were diagnosed, otherwise I assume you have been re-infected. The discharge and pain during intercourse both require you to be seen by a doctor.

    There is a Planned Parenthood in your city: www.plannedparenthood.org/montana/. Please make an appointment. They provide services to teens for little or even no cost.


    Answered By:
    Nancy Brown , Ed.S, M.A., Ph.D.


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