Egg Freezing and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Diagnosis & Treatment March 11, 2025 March 11, 2025

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) affects thousands of women each year. Many worry about how it may impact their ability to have children. Yet, understanding your options early can make a big difference.

At EVOLVE, we help patients explore fertility preservation after a PID diagnosis. Egg freezing offers a way to support your future family plans. It provides peace of mind as you navigate your health. We know you may have questions about timing, success rates, and whether it’s right for you.

In this article, we examine how PID affects fertility and what that means for egg freezing. What are the long-term effects of pelvic inflammatory disease? What are its symptoms? Can you still freeze your eggs?

Understanding Egg Freezing

Making decisions about fertility preservation starts with understanding your options. Many women choose egg freezing as a way to take control of their reproductive future.

What Is Egg Freezing, and How Does It Work?

Egg freezing helps preserve your fertility for the future—whether you’re unsure about having a family or wish to delay it until later. The process starts with hormonal medications that help your body produce multiple eggs. These medications work over 10-12 days to mature several eggs at once. Your EVOLVE team will monitor your progress through blood tests and ultrasounds. When your eggs reach the right stage, we schedule your retrieval procedure.

During the egg retrieval, our specialists collect all of the mature eggs while you’re under conscious sedation. The procedure typically takes less than 30 minutes. Our lab team then freezes your eggs using a special flash-freezing process called vitrification.

Your frozen eggs can be preserved for many years. When you’re ready to use them, we can thaw them. The eggs can then be fertilized through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

The viability of egg freezing depends on several factors. These factors may include age, overall egg quality, ovarian reserve, and underlying health conditions. It’s also important to note that freezing your eggs — even if everything goes right — does not guarantee a pregnancy in the future.

What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection that affects the female reproductive organs. It can damage your uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and surrounding pelvic tissues. PID frequently happens when bacteria spread from the vagina or cervix into the upper reproductive tract.

Causes and Risk Factors of PID

As mentioned above, PID usually starts with an infection that travels up from the vagina or cervix. Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea often trigger PID. Other bacteria can also cause PID during medical procedures or after childbirth.

Pelvic inflammatory disease risk factors include:

Multiple sexual partners
A history of sexually transmitted infections
Recent IUD insertion
Previous episodes of PID
Age under 25 years
Douching

Common Symptoms and How to Check for PID

Many women don’t notice PID symptoms right away. Yet, early detection can help prevent long-term fertility problems. Common signs may include:

Lower belly pain
Unusual vaginal discharge
Pain during sex
Irregular periods
Fever and chills
Pain during urination

Visit your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.

You may wonder, “Does pelvic inflammatory disease show on ultrasound?” An ultrasound for pelvic inflammatory disease can confirm a diagnosis. Other tests may also be performed. From there, early treatment will give you the best chance of protecting your fertility.

Long-Term Effects of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease on Fertility

Without treatment, pelvic inflammatory disease can create scar tissue in your reproductive system. This scarring might affect your fallopian tubes and ovaries. As a result, some women may experience difficulty getting pregnant after PID.

PID can lead to several fertility challenges, including:

Blocked fallopian tubes
Irregular ovulation
Higher risk of ectopic pregnancy
Chronic pelvic pain
Changes in menstrual cycles

However, early treatment helps prevent these complications. Many women with treated PID go on to have healthy pregnancies.

How PID Can Impact Egg Freezing and Fertility

It’s understandable to worry about future fertility with PID. Yet, equipped with the right knowledge, you can make informed decisions going forward. These decisions may involve egg freezing and other choices regarding family planning.

Effects of PID on Ovarian Health and Egg Quality

PID may cause inflammation around your ovaries. This inflammation sometimes leads to scarring or adhesions. Scarring from PID can affect your ovaries’ function and make egg release more difficult.

However, it typically does not impact the quality of eggs inside your ovaries. The good news is that eggs (within your ovaries) often remain healthy. This means egg freezing can still be an excellent option.

Is Egg Freezing an Option for Women with PID?

Many women with PID can successfully freeze their eggs. However, every situation is different. Your EVOLVE egg freezing team can help evaluate your options. With proper treatment and timing, egg freezing can support your future fertility.

When to Consider Egg Freezing After a PID Diagnosis

Timing matters when it comes to egg freezing after PID. Your doctor will want to clear all of the infection before starting the process, which may involve finishing a course of antibiotics. From here, you may need to wait a few weeks to months to begin the process.

Your EVOLVE team will check your recovery through blood tests and ultrasounds. These tests help us determine the right time to start. We’ll also look for any remaining inflammation that might affect the process.

How Egg Freezing Can Help Preserve Fertility

Egg freezing gives you more control over your reproductive future after PID. It protects healthy eggs before any potential complications develop. These frozen eggs remain safe even if PID causes changes to your reproductive system.

Your frozen eggs skip any future effects of PID. They stay preserved at their current quality level. You can use them whenever you’re ready to start your family.

Success Rates of Egg Freezing for Women With PID

Although the specific success rates of egg freezing for women with PID are not well-documented, overall success depends on factors like age at freezing and the number of eggs retrieved.

A study in Fertility and Sterility found that about 90% of vitrified (rapidly frozen) eggs survive thawing. Of these, 70% are successfully fertilized, and 40% develop into good-quality embryos. For women under 35, a single embryo has a 45% chance of leading to a clinical pregnancy.

Since PID affects the reproductive tract’s structure rather than egg quality, egg freezing remains a viable fertility preservation option. Consulting a fertility specialist can help determine the best approach for individual needs.

Consulting a Fertility Specialist for Personalized Options

Every woman’s experience with PID is unique. Our EVOLVE specialists will help create a plan that fits your specific needs. Your first egg freezing consultation helps us understand your complete health picture. We’ll review your PID treatment history and current symptoms. Our team will also check your ovarian health through simple tests.

Ready to learn more about your fertility options? Talk to an EVOLVE nurse today. We’re here to help you take control of your reproductive future.