Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs that can damage parts of the female reproductive system (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, etc). Usually, patients may not realize that they have PID because symptoms may be mild, or they may not experience any symptoms. However, below are some common symptoms noticed by patients with PID.
- An unusual discharge from the vagina
- Bad vaginal odor
- Fever (100.4° F or higher)
- Chills
- Burning sensation during urination
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Pain and/or bleeding during sex
- Bleeding between periods
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lower backache
- Generalized weakness
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Infertility
- Rarely patients may experience pain in the upper right side of the stomach
What are the common causes of PID?
PID is a swelling of the pelvic organs caused by an infection spreading from the vagina and cervix to the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes, ovaries, and pelvic area. If severe, it may cause an abscess (collection of pus) inside the pelvis. PID is more common in young, sexually active women. The common causes of PID include:
- Untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, are the most likely causes of PID.
- PID may also be caused by several less common infections that may or may not be sexually transmitted.
- Having more than one sex partner or having a sex partner who has multiple sex partners.
- Recurrent vaginal douching (Washing the vagina with water or a mixture of fluids to eliminate odors and clean the vagina. This can push bacteria into the reproductive organs and cause PID. Douching may also hide the signs of PID).
- Rarely PID may develop after a miscarriage or termination of pregnancy, after having a baby, or after a procedure such as insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) or coil.
- Women who have already had PID are at higher risk for another episode.
QUESTION
What percentage of the human body is water? See AnswerHow is PID diagnosed?
The doctor may suspect PID based on patient symptoms or during a pelvic exam. The patient may have pain or tenderness when the doctor examines the cervix or uterus. Below are some other ways to diagnose or confirm PID:
- Blood test
- Microscopic examination of samples from the vagina and cervix
- Pap test: This test involves microscopic examination of cells collected from the cervix that is used to detect changes that may be cancer or may lead to cancer and show noncancerous conditions, such as infection or inflammation.
- Ultrasound: A diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the internal organs.
- Laparoscopy: A minor surgical procedure in which a laparoscope, a thin tube with a lens and a light, is inserted into an incision in the abdominal wall. Using the laparoscope to see into the pelvic area, the physician can determine the locations and extent of infection.
- Culdocentesis: A procedure in which a needle is inserted into the pelvic cavity through the vaginal wall to obtain a sample of the pus, which is later examined to confirm PID.
How is PID treated?
Treatment may include painkillers and antibiotics used to treat gonorrhea, chlamydia, streptococci, and other gram-negative bacteria. Due to the difficulty in identifying organisms infecting the internal reproductive organs and more than one organism may be responsible for an episode of PID, PID is usually treated with at least two antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of infectious agents. These antibiotics can be given by mouth or by injection. The symptoms may go away before the infection is cured. Even if symptoms go away, the woman should finish taking all of the prescribed medicine. This will help prevent the infection from returning. Severe cases of PID or pregnant women may need to stay in the hospital and get antibiotics through a vein (intravenous). Sometimes, surgery may be needed to drain a pocket of infection or an abscess. Aggressive treatment of PID is recommended for women with HIV, who may be more likely to require surgical intervention.
Top What Are the Symptoms of PID? Related Articles
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
What Is a Pelvic Exam?
A pelvic exam is a routine exam for women. Physicians use a pelvic exam to look for conditions in particular organs of a woman's body including the genital organs, uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, and rectum. Pelvic exams can evaluate several conditions. Some of these conditions include sexually-transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, Trichomonas, human papillomavirus, and Chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, abnormal uterine bleeding, fibroid tumors, ovarian cysts, infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, rectal bleeding, and endometriosis.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Quiz
What are risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and how is it spread? Take this quiz to test your knowledge of this condition.
Can You Have a Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Without Having an STD?
In about 10% of cases, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may occur without having an STD. The majority of PID is sexually transmitted. The most common causative microorganisms of PID are sexually transmitted and include gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas and mycoplasma.
Pelvic Pain (in Women and Men)
Pelvic pain is described as pain, usually in the lower pelvic area. Causes of acute and chronic pelvic pain in women include endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, menstrual cramps, ovarian cysts, tumors, or fibroids, ovulation, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or congestion syndrome, vulva pain, and rarely cancer. Pelvic pain during pregnancy may be caused by miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy (tubal pregnancy), preterm or premature labor, and placental abruption. Causes of pelvic pain in men include prostate problems, testicular pain, and groin pain. Causes of pelvic pain in men and women include kidney stones, appendicitis, UTIs, IBD, and STDs.
Signs and symptoms associated with pelvic pain depend on the cause, but man include pain during or after sexual intercourse, abdominal pain, distension, and tenderness, diarrhea, constipation, vaginal discharge or bleeding, blood, pus, in the urine, cloudy urine, blood in the stool, stool color changes, and low back pain. The cause of pelvic pain is diagnosed by a physical exam, blood tests, and imaging procedures. Treatment for pelvic pain depends on the cause.
Pelvic Pain Slideshow
There are many causes of pelvic pain and pain in the lower abdomen in women. Pelvic pain near the female lower abdomen has symptoms that can be uncomfortable, but luckily, there are treatments for pelvic pain if you can identify the cause.