Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

What is PID?

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of a person's reproductive system: uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and vagina. It is most common in sexually active people under the age of 25, but can occur in any person with these organs. If not treated, PID can cause serious health problems such as infertility, pain with sex, increased risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, illness or even death.

What causes PID?

PID is usually caused by bacteria that travel up the vagina into the uterus and fallopian tubes. PID can be caused by sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, as well as bacteria that are not sexually transmitted. People at highest risk for getting PID include sexually active people under age 25, people who have more than one sexual partner or their partner has multiple sexual partners, or people who douche (insert water or cleansers into the vagina). Having a prior episode of PID increases the risk of having it again. There is a small risk of PID immediately after an IUD insertion.

What are the symptoms of PID?

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Mild symptoms may go unrecognized by people and their health care providers. It can take a few days to several weeks for someone to develop symptoms of PID after being infected.

Symptoms can include:

Abdominal pain or cramping in the lower abdomen
Painful intercourse
Vaginal discharge with a bad odor or unusual color
Fever and/or chills
Pain when peeing
Unusual vaginal bleeding or bleeding with sex

How is PID diagnosed?

There is no one lab test to diagnose PID. Patients are usually tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Diagnosis is based on the symptoms and tenderness on a pelvic exam. Because the consequences of untreated PID are so serious, healthcare providers often treat patients who might have PID before tests return, recognizing that some patients may have another condition that is causing their symptoms.

How is PID treated?

PID is treated with antibiotics which also treat gonorrhea and chlamydia. It is important to finish all the antibiotics you are given to completely clear the infection. You should return to your provider in 1-4 days to make sure the antibiotics are working. Your partner should also be treated even if they have no symptoms. You should not have intercourse until your antibiotics are finished and your partner(s) have been treated also. The CDC recommends you also get tested for HIV if you have been treated for PID. If you have PID from chlamydia or gonorrhea, get retested in 3 months.

People who are not treated or who have more than one episode of PID are at increased risk for chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and tubal pregnancy due to damage and scarring of the fallopian tubes or in pelvis.

How can I prevent PID?

Protecting yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) helps reduce your risk for PID. Abstaining from sexual contact is the only sure way to prevent PID. Being in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship is the next best strategy. Limiting your number of sexual partners will decrease your risk. Use a latex condom every time you have sex. Avoid having sex with infected partners, get early treatment for symptoms of an STI, and get routine STI screening tests every 3-6 months or with every new sexual partner. Have you had your HPV & Hepatitis vaccines to decrease your risk of other STIs?

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Resources:

For more information about Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, visit:

Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN): 1-800-458-5231
American Sexual Health Association (ASHA): 1-800-783-9877

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease