Disease Details
| Pelvic inflammatory disease | |
|---|---|
| Disease Type | Infectious Diseases |
| Description | Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female upper genital tract, including the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. |
| Causes |
Most cases of PID are caused by a bacterial infection that's spread from the vagina or the cervix to the reproductive organs higher up. Many different types of bacteria can cause PID. In about one in four cases, it's caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. In many other cases, it's caused by bacteria that normally live in the vagina. |
| Symptoms |
PID often doesn't cause any obvious symptoms. Most women have mild symptoms that may include one or more of the following: • pain around the pelvis or lower abdomen (tummy) • discomfort or pain during sex that's felt deep inside the pelvis • pain during urination • bleeding between periods and after sex • heavy periods • painful periods • unusual vaginal discharge, especially if it's yellow or green A few women become very ill with: • severe lower abdominal pain • a high temperature (fever) • nausea and vomiting |
| Treatments |
If diagnosed at an early stage, PID can be treated with a course of antibiotics, which usually lasts for 14 days. You'll be given a mixture of antibiotics to cover the most likely infections, and often an injection as well as tablets. It's important to complete the whole course and avoid having sexual intercourse during this time to help ensure the infection clears. Your recent sexual partners also need to be tested and treated to stop the infection recurring or being spread to others. |
| Prevention |
You can reduce your risk of PID by always using condoms with a new sexual partner until they've had a sexual health check. Chlamydia is very common in young men, and most don't have any symptoms. If you're worried you may have an STI, visit your local genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic for advice. Find your local sexual health clinic. If you need an invasive gynecological procedure, such as insertion of a coil or an abortion, have a check-up beforehand. |
| Complications |
The fallopian tubes can become scarred and narrowed if they're affected by PID. This can make it difficult for eggs to pass from the ovaries into the womb. This can increase your chances of having an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the fallopian tubes instead of the womb) in the future and can make some women infertile. It's estimated that around 1 in 10 women with PID becomes infertile as a result of the condition. Women who have had delayed treatment or had repeated episodes of PID are most at risk. However, most women treated for PID are still able to get pregnant without any problems. |
