Overview
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of your uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. If it's not treated right away, PID can cause scars in the fallopian tubes. This can make it harder to get pregnant. It can also cause other long-term problems, like pelvic pain or tubal (ectopic) pregnancy.
What causes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
PID is caused by bacteria. When the cervix is infected, bacteria from the vagina can more easily get into and infect the uterus and fallopian tubes. The most common causes of PID are gonorrhea and chlamydia, which are sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It may also be caused by other types of bacteria.
How can you help prevent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
Your risk of infertility increases each time you have PID, so it's important to prevent future infections. Use a condom each time you have sex. This can reduce your chance of getting a sexually transmitted infection that could lead to PID. Also avoid douching, which increases your risk for pelvic infections.
How is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) diagnosed?
To diagnose PID, your doctor will ask about your lifestyle and symptoms. He or she will do a physical exam, including a pelvic exam. Your doctor may test you for the most common causes of PID, including chlamydia and gonorrhea. You may also have blood tests to look for signs of infection.
Your doctor may also order an ultrasound to see if there are other possible causes of your symptoms. An ultrasound may also show if there is damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, or ovaries from PID.
The test results may take some time, so your doctor will treat you before the test results are ready. Treating PID early is important to prevent problems later on.
How is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) treated?
To treat PID, you will take antibiotics. Take them as directed. If you don't take all of the medicine, the infection may come back.
If your infection was caused by a sexually transmitted infection, your sex partner(s) will also need to be treated so you don't get infected again.
- Do not have sex until both of you have finished your medicine.
- See your doctor for follow-up to make sure that the treatment is working.
If you have a very bad case of PID or are also pregnant, you may need to stay in the hospital and get antibiotics through a vein (intravenous). Sometimes surgery is needed to drain a pocket of infection, or abscess.
What are the symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
The most common symptom of PID is pain in the lower belly. The pain is often described as cramping or a dull and constant ache. It may be worse during sex, during bowel movements, or when you urinate.
You could also have:
- Fever.
- More discharge from the vagina than usual, or discharge that is yellow, brown, or green.
- Irregular menstrual bleeding.
You may notice symptoms more during menstrual bleeding or the week after your period.
