Patient education: Pelvic inflammatory disease (The Basics)

What is pelvic inflammatory disease? — Pelvic inflammatory disease, also called "PID," is an infection that affects the reproductive system (figure 1). The reproductive system includes:

●The uterus, the organ that holds a baby during pregnancy

●The ovaries, the organs that release eggs

●The fallopian tubes, which connect the ovaries to the uterus

PID is most commonly caused by infections that are spread through sex. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are 2 of the most common infections that lead to PID. PID can cause ongoing (also called "chronic") pain. Without treatment, it can also cause scars to form on the fallopian tubes. This can make it hard to get pregnant or cause problems if you do get pregnant.

What are the symptoms of PID? — The main symptom of PID is pain in the lower belly. Pain can be mild or more severe. For some people, this pain gets worse during sex.

Other symptoms can include:

●Fluid leaking from the vagina (called "discharge")

●Bleeding or "spotting" from the vagina

●Pain during a pelvic exam

Is there a test for PID? — There is no simple test that can show whether or not you have PID. But there are a few tests that can help your doctor or nurse find the possible cause of your problem.

First, your doctor or nurse will do a pelvic exam to check for signs of infection or inflammation. Then, they might test your urine, blood, or vaginal discharge for signs of infection or other problems.

Depending on your situation, you might also get other tests, such as an ultrasound. An ultrasound is an imaging test that creates pictures of the inside of your body. It is painless.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes. If you think you might have PID, it is very important to find out and to start treatment right away. The longer you wait to get treated, the more likely you are to develop long-term problems.

How is PID treated? — PID is treated with antibiotics. These antibiotics come in different forms, and not everyone takes them in the same way. Some people get a shot plus pills. Some people need to get the antibiotics in the hospital through a thin tube that goes into a vein, called an "IV," first and then take pills when they go home. Your doctor will decide which treatment is best for you.

It is very important to take all the pills in your prescription, even if you feel better before you finish them. If you don't take all the pills, the infection could come back.

If you have PID, your recent sex partners also need to see a doctor and get treatment. This includes anyone you had sex with in the 2 months before your symptoms started. If your sex partners are not treated, they can infect you again.

Can PID be prevented? — Since PID is most commonly caused by a germ that you get during sex, you can lower your risk of getting PID by:

●Using a latex condom every time you have sex

●Not having sex with a partner who has symptoms of an infection

●Not having sex at all

What if I want to get pregnant? — If you have had PID, you could have a hard time getting pregnant. That's because PID can cause scars to form on the fallopian tubes. If you do get pregnant, you will also have a higher-than-average chance of having an ectopic pregnancy, which can be dangerous. An ectopic pregnancy is when an embryo starts to grow in the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus. This can cause the fallopian tube to burst.

If you are trying to get pregnant, be sure to tell your doctor or nurse that you have had PID.

More on this topic

Patient education: Chronic pelvic pain in females (The Basics)
Patient education: Chlamydia and gonorrhea (The Basics)
Patient education: Screening for sexually transmitted infections (The Basics)

Patient education: Chlamydia (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Gonorrhea (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Chronic pelvic pain in females (Beyond the Basics)