Pelvic inflammatory disease is a common infection within the female reproductive organs (more than 1 million cases per year in the United States).
PID is caused when bacteria moves from the vagina and cervix upward into the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. This may lead to an abscess in a fallopian tube or ovary.
Long term problems can occur with PID if not treated promptly.
The main causes of PID are gonorrhea and chlamydia. PID can be caused by infections that are not sexually transmitted, such as bacterial vaginosis.
It takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before PID develops and symptoms can be vague or none at all.
PID can lead to serious, long-term problems such as:
Pelvic inflammatory disease can occur in any woman who is sexually active, but it is more common in women younger than 25.
It is also more common for women with the following risk factors to develop PID:
Many women with PID have only mild symptoms or none at all. Many symptoms can be vague, causing PID to be missed by women or their health care physicians.
Signs and symptoms include:
Having one of these symptoms does not mean you have PID. It could be a sign or another problem, such as appendicitis or ectopic pregnancy. Contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
PID can be treated, but any scarring that might have occurred cannot be reversed. The longer PID goes untreated, the greater the risk for long-term problems.
Infection is usually treated by antibiotics (possibly two or more different ones). Your physician will most likely schedule a follow-up visit 2-3 days after treatment to check on your progress. Make sure to take the antibiotics for as long as they are prescribed, even if the symptoms go away.
You may be hospitalized if you:
The sex partners of an infected woman need to be treated, as they may have gonorrhea or chlamydia.
Take these steps to avoid STD infection to help prevent PID:
CANTON
227 Riverstone Drive
Canton, GA 30114
WOODSTOCK
100 Stone Forest Drive, Suite 200
Woodstock, GA 30189
