Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a serious infection in the upper genital tract/reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries) of a female.
PID can be sexually transmitted or naturally occurring. It can lead to infertility in women (unable to have children) or life-threatening complications.
Women between ages 15 and 25 have the highest incidence of PID. In the United States, it is the leading cause of women who are unable to have children.
Two other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), chlamydia and gonorrhea, are the most common causes of PID. Other bacteria or germs can also cause PID.
If you have an infection in the genital tract and do not get treated right away, it can cause PID.
The infection spreads from the cervix into the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. It can take anywhere from several days to several months after being infected to develop PID.
What can cause an infection to spread into the upper genital tract?·
Using an IUD (intrauterine devices)·
Germs ·
Douching.
Women who douche once or twice a month are more likely to have PID than those who douche less than once a month. Douching may also ease symptoms of an infection, thus delaying effective treatment.
Could I Have PID ? What To Look For
Dull pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen ·
Burning or pain when you urinate (pee) ·
Nausea and vomiting · Bleeding between menstrual periods·
Increased or changed vaginal discharge ·
Pain during sex·
Fever and chills·
It is possible for a woman to have PID and be asymptomatic (without symptoms), or have symptoms too mild to notice, for an unknown period of time.· PID can also be misdiagnosed as appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, ruptured ovarian cysts or other problems.
Diagnosing PID: What Your Doctor Can Do The diagnosis of PID can be made when all three of the following symptoms are found during a pelvic exam: · Lower abdominal tenderness ·
Tenderness of fallopian tubes and ovaries· Tenderness of the cervix
All other explanations for these findings must have been ruled out.
Adapted from: American Social Health Association |