Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory diseaserefers to an infection in some or all of the female organs. The infection can be in the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the surrounding tissues in the pelvis.

PID can cause abdominal or pelvic pain that comes on suddenly (acute pelvic pain). PID is a serious infection because it can lead to lasting (chronic) pelvic pain or the inability to have children (infertility).

What are the causes?

This condition is most often caused by an infection that is spread during sexual contact. However, the infection can also be caused by the normal bacteria that are found in the vaginal tissues if these bacteria travel upward into the reproductive organs. PID can also occur following:

  • The birth of a baby.
  • A miscarriage.
  • An abortion.
  • Major pelvic surgery.
  • The use of an intrauterine device (IUD).
  • A sexual assault.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in women who:

  • Are younger than 25 years of age.
  • Are sexually active at a young age.
  • Use nonbarrier contraception.
  • Have multiple sexual partners.
  • Have sex with someone who has symptoms of an STD (sexually transmitted disease).
  • Use oral contraception.

At times, certain behaviors can also increase the possibility of getting PID, such as:

  • Using a vaginal douche.
  • Having an IUD in place.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

  • Abdominal or pelvic pain.
  • Fever.
  • Chills.
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge.
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding.
  • Unusual pain shortly after the end of a menstrual period.
  • Painful urination.
  • Pain with sexual intercourse.
  • Nausea and vomiting.

How is this diagnosed?

To diagnose this condition, your health care provider will do a physical exam and take your medical history. A pelvic exam typically reveals great tenderness in the uterus and the surrounding pelvic tissues. You may also have tests, such as:

  • Lab tests, including a pregnancy test, blood tests, and urine test.
  • Culture tests of the vagina and cervix to check for an STD.
  • Ultrasound.
  • A laparoscopic procedure to look inside the pelvis.
  • Examining vaginal secretions under a microscope.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition may involve one or more approaches.

  • Antibiotic medicines may be prescribed to be taken by mouth.
  • Sexual partners may need to be treated if the infection is caused by an STD.
  • For more severe cases, hospitalization may be needed to give antibiotics directly into a vein through an IV tube.
  • Surgery may be needed if other treatments do not help, but this is rare.

It may take weeks until you are completely well. If you are diagnosed with PID, you should also be checked for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Your health care provider may test you for infection again 3 months after treatment. You should not have unprotected sex.

Follow these instructions at home:

  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
  • Do not have sexual intercourse until treatment is completed or as told by your health care provider. If PID is confirmed, your recent sexual partners will need treatment, especially if you had unprotected sex.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • You have increased or abnormal vaginal discharge.
  • Your pain does not improve.
  • You vomit.
  • You have a fever.
  • You cannot tolerate your medicines.
  • Your partner has an STD.
  • You have pain when you urinate.

Get help right away if:

  • You have increased abdominal or pelvic pain.
  • You have chills.
  • Your symptoms are not better in 72 hours even with treatment.
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