Sheila's Story

Sheila had a pain in her belly. She went to the hospital. At the hospital, Sheila had some tests.

Sheila learned that she had a sexually transmitted disease. The disease was called chlamydia. Chlamydia can be cured with medicine. But Sheila had chlamydia for many years, so it damaged her body. Now Sheila had an infection in her belly. The infection in her belly was called P.I.D. Sheila learned that she could not get pregnant.

Sheila asked, "How could I have a sexually transmitted disease and not know it? I never felt sick before. I went to a doctor every year. My doctor did not tell me that I had a sexually transmitted disease".

The hospital doctor said, "Most women who have a sexually transmitted disease do not feel sick. A doctor cannot always tell if you have a disease by looking at you, or by examining you. The only way to know if you have a sexually transmitted disease is to have tests".

Sheila was angry. She said, "Why don't women know about these tests?"

From the story:

1. What is P.I.D.?
   
   
2. Why didn't Sheila know that she had a sexually transmitted disease?
   
   
3. Why was Sheila angry?

What do you think?

1. Should women have tests for sexually transmitted diseases if they don't feel sick? Why or why not?
   
   
2. Who should have tests for sexually transmitted diseases?
   
   
3. Women don't always know about tests for sexually transmitted diseases. How can more women learn about these tests?