| Basic Information |
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| Description |
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Infection of the female internal reproductive organs. It is contagious
if it is caused by a sexually transmitted organism. PID can involve
the fallopian tubes, cervix, uterus, ovaries, and urinary bladder.
It affects sexually active females after puberty, especially late
teens and early 20's.
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| Frequent Signs and Symptoms |
Early symptoms (up to 1 week):
- Pain in the lower pelvis on one or both sides, especially
during menstrual periods. Menstrual flow may be heavy.
- Pain with intercourse.
- Bad-smelling vaginal discharge.
- General ill feeling.
- Low fever.
- Frequent, painful urination.
Later symptoms (1 to 3 weeks later):
- Severe pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen.
- High fever.
- Increased bad-smelling, vaginal discharge.
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| Causes |
- Bacterial infection (chlamydial, gonorrheal or mycoplasmal)
or a virus. This may be transmitted by an infected sexual partner.
- Childbirth.
- Abortion.
- Pelvic surgery.
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| Risk Increases With |
- Multiple sexual partners, or exposure to a single partner
who is infected.
- Use of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD).
- Previous history of PID or cervicitis.
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| Preventive Measures |
- Use rubber condoms, spermicidal creams or sponges to help
prevent sexually transmitted infections.
- Oral contraceptives appear to decrease the risk.
- Seek routine medical check-ups for sexually transmitted diseases
if you have multiple sexual partners.
- Have your sexual partner evaluated and treated if necessary.
Don't resume sexual activity with your partner until his tests
show no infection, or he has been treated.
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| Expected Outcome |
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Usually curable with early treatment and avoidance of further
infection. The illness lasts from 1 to 6 weeks, depending on its
severity and the organisms involved. Poorer prognosis if treated
late and unsafe lifestyle continues.
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| Possible Complications |
- Pelvic abscess and rupture. This can be life-threatening.
- Adhesions (bands of scar tissue) inside the pelvis.
- Infertility.
- Ectopic pregnancy.
- Recurrence.
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| Treatment/Post Procedure Care |
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| General Measures |
- Diagnostic tests may include laboratory studies, such as
a blood test to rule out syphilis; a culture of the discharge
from the lesions and antibody tests for the Chlamydia organism.
- Heat applied to affected area may help discomfort.
- Surgery to drain affected lymph glands or remove an abscess
(a collection of pus as a result of an infection) and fistulas
(an abnormal passage between two organs or from an internal
organ to the body surface).
- Your sexual contacts should be examined also.
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| Medication |
- Intravenous or intramuscular antibiotics to fight infection.
- Early or mild PID may be treated with oral antibiotics.
- Pain relievers.
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| Activity |
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Avoid sexual intercourse until healing is complete. Rest in bed
until any fever subsides. Sit and lie in different positions until
you find one that is comfortable for you. Allow several weeks
for recovery.
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| Diet |
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No special diet.
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| Notify Your Healthcare Provider If |
- You or a family member has symptoms of pelvic inflammatory
disease.
- Symptoms recur after treatment.
- New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment
may produce side effects.
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