An infection of the women’s reproductive organs is called Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Commonly, it happens due to sexually transmitted bacteria going from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
If you do not receive treatment for this condition, it may lead to scar tissue and pockets of infected fluid (abscess) that develop in the reproductive tract. In such cases, you may experience permanent damage.
Commonly, the PID symptoms are subtle or mild. Moreover, some people do not experience any symptoms. Therefore, these females do not know they have this condition until face pregnancy problems or chronic pelvic pain.
Symptoms
Despite many women either experiencing mild or no symptoms at all, others can notice some unpleasant signs of PID. Examples include:
- Pain (that happens usually in the lower abdomen and pelvis and ranges from mild to severe)
- Heavy vaginal discharge or bleeding from the vagina that can have an unpleasant odor. In addition, heavy bleedings usually occur during or after sex and between periods.
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Fever
- Chills
- Painful, frequent, or difficult urination
It is advised to seek medical attention immediately if the following symptoms occur. Examples include:
- Fever which is higher than 101 F or 38.3 C degrees
- Severe pain in the abdomen
- Foul vaginal discharge
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Additionally, if you experience less severe symptoms (such as painful urination, bleeding between periods, or vaginal discharge with an odor), you may have a sexually transmitted disease (STI). In such cases, visit a doctor and interrupt sexual intercourse. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to prevent PID.
Causes
There are different bacteria types that provoke PID. However, the most common causes of PID are gonorrhea and chlamydia. Commonly, people get these bacteria during unprotected sexual intercourse.
Some people may also develop PID due to bacteria that enter the reproductive tract when the barrier produced by the cervix is disturbed. Commonly, it occurs during menstrual periods, after childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. Rarely, people can get this bacteria through an intrauterine device (IUD). IUD is a type of long-term birth control.
Risk Factors
Anyone can get this pelvic disease and the following factors could elevate your risk. For example:
- Those who are sexually active and younger than 25 years old
- People who have constantly different sexual partners
- If you are in a sexual relationship with a partner who has more than one sex partner your risk increases too
- Unprotected sexual activity
- Regularly douching can also upset the balance of good and harmful bacteria in the vagina
- Medical history of pelvic inflammatory disease or sexually transmitted infections
Complications
Scar tissue and abscesses can happen if you ignore this condition and do not receive treatment. As a result, permanent damage to the reproductive organs can occur. Check below some potential complications that can occur:
- Ectopic pregnancy – Women who experience PID are at higher risk of developing tubal (ectopic) pregnancy. This is a pregnancy in which scarring of the tissues occurs in the fallopian tubes. As a result, it prevents the fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus. Therefore, the eggs implant in the fallopian tubes causing heavy and dangerous bleeding that is considered a medical emergency.
- Infertility – Usually, reproductive organ damage can provoke infertility. In other words, a female becomes unable to become pregnant. The risk of infertility increases significantly for those who experience PID more times or who do not treat this pelvic disease.
- Chronic pelvic pain – Pelvic pain that occurs due to PID can last for months and sometimes for years. Moreover, if you experience scarring in the fallopian tubes or other pelvic organs can lead to painful sexual intercourse and ovulation.
- Tubo-ovarian abscess – In most cases, abscesses occur in the fallopian tubes and ovaries but sometimes they can happen in the uterus or other pelvic organs. A life-threatening infection can be experienced by those who do not treat abscesses.
How to Prevent Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?
There are some tips that could help you to prevent or avoid PID. Examples include:
- It is advised to practice safe sex, which means to use condoms or dental dams. It will help to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can provoke PID.
- Consult with your healthcare professional about contraception because not all types can protect you against pelvic inflammatory disease.
- In any case, if you are at higher risk of developing an STI is recommended to have regular checkups.
- Do not douche because it can contribute to PID.
Diagnosis
However, there is no test that can diagnose this condition. As a result, physicians will perform different tests that will help to confirm PID. Check below some examples:
- Medical history – Doctors will ask you questions about symptoms and medical history to check for sexually transmitted infections and the birth control type you use.
- Pelvic Examination – This procedure is done to verify for tenderness and swelling in the pelvic area. Doctors may use a cotton swab to get a sample of fluid from the vagina and cervix. After that, these samples are sent to the laboratory to test for infections (including gonorrhea and chlamydia).
- Urine and blood tests – These tests are usually directed by your doctor to check for pregnancy, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), or other sexually transmitted diseases.
- Ultrasound – Physicians perform this test because it helps to make detailed images of the reproductive organs.
However, if still is not clear whether you have PID or not, physicians may perform two additional tests (such as laparoscopy and endometrial biopsy).
Treatment
Early diagnosis and treatment is the only way to prevent dangerous complications and PID recurrence. Once scarring or damage to the reproductive tract happens, it cannot be reversed. Check below some treatment options usually prescribed by the doctors:
- Antibiotics – In some cases, doctors may prescribe a combination of antibiotics even before lab tests outcomes. Thereafter, they adjust the dosage and medicine to help better destroy the underlying cause of the infection.
- Temporary abstinence – While you are on treatment for PID, you should not engage in sexual intercourse.
Additionally, healthcare providers recommend treatment for your sexual partner because it will help to prevent infection recurrence. There are some cases in which infected sexual partners do not have any symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do doctors recommend surgery to treat PID?
If you do not notice any improvements while taking antibiotics, physicians may perform surgery.
What are the main causes of PID?
This condition is usually provoked by bacterial infections. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the most common causes of PID.
How to understand if PID is getting worse?
While some people do not experience any symptoms, others may experience pain in the abdomen and pelvis, heavy discharge from the vagina which has a bad smell, and others. If you notice any of the previous symptoms, it might mean your PID worsens. In such cases, immediately contact your healthcare provider. Ask your doctor if you have additional questions.
