Dear Dr. Brown,
Thank you for providing this service! I feel like women's health issues are enshrouded in mystery, and it is amazing that an expert like you is willing to disseminate quality information. I have a few questions about my own fertility and reproductive health.
1.) I am a 25 year old female. I have not yet had vaginal sex, but I had one oral/mutual masturbation encounter over a year ago with a male my age (I gave with protection, received without). I learned later of his promiscuity, and was nervous enough to get STD tested around 11 months later. The nucleic acid test on my urine was positive for a low grade chlamydia infection. My doctor treated me with a single dose of azithromycin. I have been anxious about my fertility since. Could the bacteria move from his mouth/hands, through my hymen and up my vagina into my reproductive organs? My doctor said it is unlikely that I had chlamydia without having sex, but that it is possible I contracted it from the oral encounter. How likely is it that I had chlamydia? I would have had it for 11 months! Could I have incurred significant reproductive damage? I am now very conscious of any lower abdominal discomfort. But would I start getting symptoms months after treatment? We have other organ systems that could cause occasional twinges of lower abdominal discomfort, correct (digestive perhaps)? Also, the test was a low positive. Does that mean I might not have had it (without being a false positive)?
2) I've never had a pap smear. Are there any reasons I should be getting them even though I haven't had sex?
3) My mom had fibroids and a hysterectomy (though no other woman in my family has). Am I at a higher risk for them?
4) I was also wondering what the research indicates about having children later in life, and whether fertility treatments have been correlated with increased incidences of disabilities in kids.
Thank you again for your help and expertise! It is greatly appreciated.