PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is an infection of the female reproductive organs. Although many types of bacteria can cause PID, the bacteria found in two common sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea and chlamydia) are the most frequent causes. After infection with one of these diseases, PID can develop within a few days to a few months. It is possible for a woman to develop PID without having an STD. Normal bacteria found in the vagina and on the cervix can cause PID, although this is rare.

Symptoms may range from none to severe. If a woman develops PID from a chlamydia infection, she may have no symptoms or mild symptoms because chlamydia often causes no symptoms in women. Even with no symptoms, PID can cause serious damage to a woman's fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries. If symptoms of PID do occur they include:

pain in the lower abdomen
fever
painful sexual intercourse
unusual vaginal discharge that may have a foul odor
irregular menstrual bleeding or
pain during a pelvic exam

Diagnosis of PID is sometimes hard because the symptoms of PID may be like those of other conditions, such as appendicitis or ectopic pregnancy. Testing for PID will include a pelvic exam, checks for fever and abnormal vaginal or cervical discharge, and testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Blood tests may be needed to determine how severe the infection is. If it is not clear that PID is causing the problem, more tests may be needed. A pelvic ultrasound may be done to see if the fallopian tubes are enlarged or an infection is present. If a laparoscopy procedure is needed, a telescope-like tool (called a laparoscope) is used to look at the pelvic organs and take tissue samples for laboratory testing.

Both the infected woman and her partner should be treated for PID. This will prevent the infection from passing back and forth. If the infection is not too severe, it can be cured with antibiotics. Untreated PID may cause serious conditions, including abscesses in the fallopian tubes and scarring that leads to infertility, tubal pregnancy, or chronic pelvic pain. Surgery may be necessary if a woman has a severe PID infection.

Women at risk for developing PID include:

sexually active women under age 25
women who use an IUD
women who have more than one sex partner or the sex partner has other sex partners and
women who have had a sexually transmitted disease, especially gonorrhea and chlamydia

Prevention of PID is important to maintaining good health and fertility. Not having sex is the only sure way to prevent PID. Women who are in sexual relations should practice safe sex by protecting themselves with a condom every time they have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It is important to know that condoms decrease your chance of getting a sexually transmitted disease, but do not provide complete protection. Even if you use other methods of birth control, including birth control pills, shots, implants, and diaphragms use a condom when having sex. Do not douche. Douching will increase your risk for getting a sexually transmitted disease because it removes some of the protective normal bacteria in the vagina.

There is no sure way to prevent PID if you are sexually active. Most women should have a well woman's physical examination every year. Doing this will help ensure that changes to a woman's reproductive organs are diagnosed as early as possible.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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