[ Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) ]

What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is a severe infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. PID typically occurs during the childbearing years, when women are most sexually active. It is the leading preventable cause of infertility in the United States, because PID can damage the tissues in and near the uterus, ovaries, and the fallopian tubes, which carry the eggs from the ovary to the womb.

PID occurs when bacteria, the most common are chlamydia and gonorrhea, move from a female’s cervix or vagina into the internal reproductive organs. PID is not only transmitted sexually, but can be acquired naturally from many pathogens.

Those women at a higher risk include females under 25, females with more sex partners, females who have an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted, and douching too frequently, more than once monthly, increasing chances for PID.

What are the Symptoms for PID?

Some women are asymptomatic or have unrecognizable symptoms, but others may such severe symptoms it may be misdiagnosed as ectopic pregnancy, appendicitis, or ruptured ovarian cysts. Common symptoms are painful intercourse, vaginal discharge, foul odor, fever, nausea or vomiting, burning during urination, pain or sensitivity in the lower abdomen, and irregular menstrual bleeding.

What is the Treatment for PID?

PID can be cured with antibiotics. Prompt treatment can prevent damage to reproductive organs. The longer women wait for treatment, the more likely they may have permanent damage to the fallopian tubes or become infertile, because the antibiotic does not reverse any damage already incurred.

Since more than one organism may be responsible, PID is usually treated with at least two antibiotics that are effective against chlamydia, gonorrhea, and a wide range of infectious agents. One fourth of women infected with PID are hospitalized. Hospitalization is recommended for the severely ill, pregnant women, and those who need intravenous antibiotic.

Untreated PID can lead to serious problems including infertility, abscess formation, chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and in very rare situations, death.

How do you Test for PID?

When there is sensitivity in the lower abdomen including the cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, a diagnosis can be made during a pelvic exam.

Testing and treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea can reduce the possibility of PID.