Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Overview

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a serious infection of a woman's reproductive organs. PID is a leading cause of infertility in the United States, where at least 1 million cases of PID occur annually. Following PID, scarring will cause approximately 20 percent of women to become infertile, 18 percent to develop chronic pelvic pain and 9 percent to have ectopic pregnancies. PID can also lead to life-threatening complications.

The most common causes of PID are the two sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia and gonorrhea. PID occurs when an infection in the genital tract isn't treated right away. The infection spreads from the cervix up into the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. PID can develop anywhere from several days to several months after infection with an STD. PID can cause scarring in the fallopian tubes, which can lead to tubal pregnancy (a life-threatening pregnancy in which there is no chance of producing a baby).

A woman who has had PID may have problems getting pregnant or be unable to have children at all. PID can also cause long-lasting pain. Some women have no symptoms or symptoms too mild to notice. However, PID can cause permanent damage even when it is completely painless. PID can develop months or even years after the initial infection is contracted. PID does not cause endometriosis.

Symptoms

The symptoms of PID are:
pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen
pain during sexual intercourse
bleeding between menstrual periods
increased or changed vaginal discharge
nausea and/or vomiting
fever and chills

Because PID is most often caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea, men who are infected with those STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) can help their partners prevent PID by getting treatment and taking precautions. Men are more likely than women to have symptoms from chlamydia or gonorrhea, the infections that often cause PID, so they will often know before a woman that something is wrong.

These symptoms include:
pus-like discharge from the penis, often yellowish in color
pain or burning with urination
Treatment
If detected early, PID can be cured with antibiotic medication. If left untreated, some cases of PID may require hospitalization. Women can get PID again if they are re-exposed to STDs like chlamydia or gonorrhea. If you suspect PID, go to your health care provider or clinic at once. Even if your symptoms are not severe, do not ignore them--get help as soon as possible, before permanent damage is done.

If PID is diagnosed, the woman and all sex partners must be treated. Otherwise, they will continue to pass the infection back and forth. Avoid sex, or use condoms and spermicide during sex, until all sex partners are completely cured. After treatment, go back for a follow-up exam with your health care provider or clinic to be sure PID is eliminated.

Prevention

The best way to prevent PID is to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. If you are sexually active, get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea at least once a year. If you think you may have an STD, get tested and treated right away, before the infection spreads. To prevent STDs, use a latex condom and spermicide every time you have sexual intercourse.

A man can help protect his female partner by telling her at once if he is diagnosed with an infection. Early treatment can spare her lasting damage to her body. Men should be treated with antibiotics to cure chlamydia or gonorrhea. To be sure the infection is taken care of, men and women should take all the medicine prescribed, even if symptoms go away.