Pelvic inflammatory disease definitions
What is pelvic inflammatory disease ?
- Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the womb and/or Fallopian tubes. Treatment is with antibiotics. Your partner should also be treated. Starting treatment early lessens the risk of complications. Possible complications include persistent pelvic pain and an increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy (if you become pregnant). However there is also an increased risk of difficulty in falling pregnant.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) refers to infection of the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus) and other reproductive organs that causes symptoms such as lower abdominal pain. It is a serious complication of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), especially chlamydia and gonorrhea. PID can damage the fallopian tubes and tissues in and near the uterus and ovaries.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is infection of a woman’s reproductive organs. Infection spreads upward from the cervix to the uterus, Fallopian tubes, ovaries, and surrounding structures.
Pelvic inflammatory disease causes
- A common cause of PID is from a sexually transmitted infection (the bacteria are passed on when you have sex). Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are the most commonly found causes of Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- Causes of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) occurs when bacteria move upward from a woman’s vagina or cervix (opening to the uterus) into her reproductive organs. Many different organisms can cause PID, but many cases are associated with gonorrhea and chlamydia, two very common bacterial STDs.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease is most frequently caused by bacteria that are transmitted through sexual contact and other bodily secretions. Bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia cause more than half of cases. Many studies suggest that a number of patients with PID and other sexually transmitted diseases are often infected with two or more infectious agents, and commonly these are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Other organisms can also cause PID but are much less common.
Signs of pelvic inflammatory disease
- Symptoms of PID vary from mild to severe. When PID is caused by chlamydial infection, a woman may be more likely to experience only mild symptoms even when serious damage is being done to her reproductive organs. Chlamydia can also cause fallopian tube infection without any symptoms. Because of vague symptoms, PID often goes unrecognized by women and their health care providers. Women who have symptoms of PID most commonly have lower abdominal pain. Other signs and symptoms include fever, unusual vaginal discharge that may have a foul odor, painful intercourse, painful urination, irregular menstrual bleeding, and pain in the right upper abdomen (rare).
Pelvic inflammatory disease symptoms
- Pain in the lower abdomen (pelvic area) is the most common symptom. It can range from mild to severe. Or Abdominal pain (especially lower abdominal pain) or tenderness.
- Other Inflammatory pelvic disease symptoms, Abnormal vaginal bleeding / uterine bleeding, which occurs in about 1 in 4 cases. This may be periods that are heavier than usual, or bleeding between periods, or bleeding after having sex.
- Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease can unusual or heavy vaginal discharge, Painful urination, and Painful sexual intercourse.
Pelvic inflammatory disease treatment
- The usual treatment is a course of antibiotics for at least two weeks. Sometimes your doctor may feel you need to be in hospital for treatment. This is advisable if your temperature is very high (higher than 38°C) or there are signs of an abscess. Two antibiotics are commonly prescribed. This is to cover the range of possible bacteria that can cause PID. It is important to take the full course of treatment. Treatment will usually be started as soon as possible if PID is suspected. Sometimes even before the results of swabs or other tests are available. This is because the earlier the treatment, the better the outlook, and the lower the risk of future fertility problems. Tell your doctor if you are (or may be) pregnant. This may affect the choice of antibiotic. Occasionally, an operation is needed. For example, to drain an abscess if one develops (which is uncommon). You should not have sex until both you and your sexual partner have finished treatment.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease can be cured with several types of antibiotics. A health care provider will determine and prescribe the best therapy. However, antibiotic treatment does not reverse any damage that has already occurred to the reproductive organs. If a woman has pelvic pain and other symptoms of PID, it is critical that she seek care immediately. Prompt antibiotic treatment can prevent severe damage to reproductive organs. The longer a woman delays treatment for PID, the more likely she is to become infertile or to have a future ectopic pregnancy because of damage to the fallopian tubes.
- A health care practitioner will start antibiotic therapy for PID as soon as the diagnosis is made. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are suspected and treated in every person. Pain medication and IV fluids will be given if the patient needs them.
Pelvic inflammatory disease pictures
