Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases - A major cause of infertility in women

Navrongo (U/E), Oct. 12 GNA - Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is a major cause of infertility in Ghanaian women, Dr John Williams of the Navrongo Health Research Institute has said. Dr Williams, who was speaking at a day's Health Seminar organised by the Women's Commission of the University for Development Studies (UDS) at the Navrongo Campus, said PID occurred when bacteria or fungi infected the female reproductive organs and was either left untreated for a long time or inadequately treated. This he said could cause permanent damage to the organs as the bacteria could silently invade the fallopian tubes causing normal tissue to turn into scar tissue.

The Seminar under the theme; 'Prevention of Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases (PID)' was aimed at educating female students to take good care of their reproductive system, which was very crucial to child bearing. He explained that PID occurred when the bacterial or fungal infection moved upwards from a woman's genitalia or cervix into the reproductive organs and said many different organisms could cause PID, but the main causes were associated with gonorrhoea and chlamydeous infections.

Dr Williams said scar tissue could block or interrupt the normal movement of an egg into the uterus, thereby preventing normal pregnancy, adding, that when the fallopian tubes were totally blocked or even slightly damaged by scar tissue, sperms could not fertilize an egg. Dr Williams attributed the cause of PID mainly to having multiple sex partners, practising of douching by women and the use of intrauterine device among other causes. He stated it was often difficult to diagnose the symptoms of PID, but the most common symptoms were fever, cervical tenderness, lower abdominal pains, new or different discharges, painful sex and irregular menstrual bleeding.

The Resource person asked the students to abstain from sex or use condoms, stick to one partner or visit the nearby hospital or health centre to seek treatment as soon as one realized the symptoms. In her welcoming address, Dr Agnes Apusiga in charge of Gender Programmes of UDS, urged the female students to make good use of the lesson drawn from the PID lectures since the condition could prevent them from bearing children. Dr Apusiga explained that Ghanaian Society and for that matter Africa cherished children more than anything and cautioned the female students to practice save and healthy sex to avoid being caught by PID. Explaining some of the objectives of the Commission, Ms Mary Ayeriga the Women's Commissioner, said its main focus was to champion and propagate the needs and the activities of female students and to solicit for support. Ms Ayeriga said the Commission had also been organizing educative seminars on health, social and economic issues aimed at grooming women to fit well into the society. The occasion was also used to raise a Girl-Child Education Fund for the needy but brilliant children.