Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Bacteria can travel up the vagina, through a tiny opening in the cervix (neck of the womb) and into the womb, fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvis. PID is an infection of thewomb, fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvis. These bacteria can be from a sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, or they may be normal bacteria from the vagina. PID can have no symptoms, mild symptoms or severe symptoms. Sometimes symptoms are similar to those seen with appendicitis. PID can also occur after contraceptive coil insertion and some gynaecological surgery (such as surgical management of miscarriage, termination of pregnancy or hysteroscopy – a camera test to check the womb lining).
Mild PID Symptoms
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Pain during urination
- Unusual discharge
- Heavy or painful periods
Severe PID Symptoms
- Severe abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
Causes
PID can have many causes but 1 in 4 cases are caused by a sexually transmitted disease (STD) including gonorrhea and chlamydia. PID can cause infertility by scarring the fallopian tubes, causing them to block and this is especially problematic when the woman has had no symptoms and she only realizes when she tries to get pregnant.
How Is It Diagnosed?
There is no simple test for PID but anyone with the above symptoms should visit their doctor or clinic immediately. Swabs will be taken from the vagina and cervix to check for bacteria. It is important to use barrier contraception and get tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases in order to prevent PID from occurring. If PID is suspected from your symptoms, it is better to treat it early with antibiotics rather than wait for swab results, because of the potential effect on your fertility.
Treatment Of PID
Most of the time, PID can be treated with a course of antibiotics taken by mouth for 14 days, with or without a one-off injection at the beginning of the course. During treatment you should not have sexual intercourse, and your partner should be tested for STDs before you resume having sex.
If your symptoms are severe, you may need to be admitted to hospital for intravenous antibiotics (a drip). During your stay in hospital, you may have an ultrasound scan of your pelvis to check for evidence of tubal swelling or pockets of infection (abscess). You are unlikely to need surgery unless your infection is not improving with antibiotics.
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