WHAT IS PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE?

Published at : 04-07-2019View : 9391

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It
usually occurs when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from your vagina to your uterus,
fallopian tubes or ovaries.
WHAT DOES PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE
MEAN?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs. The
pelvis is in the lower abdomen and includes the fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, and uterus. It can
lead to scar formations with fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs. Pelvic
inflammatory disease often causes no signs or symptoms. As a result, you might not realize you
have the condition and get needed treatment. The condition might be detected later if you have
trouble getting pregnant or if you develop chronic pelvic pain.
HOW DO YOU GET PELVIC INFLAMMATORY
DISEASE
A woman can get PID if bacteria move up from her vagina or cervix and into her
reproductive organs. Many different types of bacteria can cause PID. Most often, PID is caused
by infection from two common STIs: gonrrhea and chlamydia. The number of women with PID
has dropped in recent years. This may be because more women are getting tested regularly for
chlamydia and gonorrhea.
You can also get PID without having an STI. Normal bacteria in the vagina can travel into a
woman's reproductive organs and can sometimes cause PID. Sometimes the bacteria travel up to
a woman's reproductive organs because of douching. Do not douche. No doctor or nurse
recommends douching.

SYMPTOMS OF PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE

A woman with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may have no symptoms, mild discomfort,
chronic and/or progressive pain, or she may be severely and acute ill. The severity of symptoms
is unrelated to the damage caused as, for example, chlamydia may cause fallopian tube infection
 with only mild discomfort. Many women with PID have no symptoms. If symptoms appear, they
can vary from mild to severe; however, untreated PID can have serious consequences. When
symptoms do happen, they can be mild or more serious.
Signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease might include:
 Pain in your lower abdomen and pelvis(the most common symptom)
 Pain in your upper abdomen
 Heavy vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor
 Abnormal uterine bleeding, especially during or after intercourse,
 Pain or bleeding during intercourse
 increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
 Fever, sometimes with chills
 Painful or difficult urination
 Tiredness/fatigue
 vomiting

Most cases result from an untreated infection in the vagina or cervix that spreads. Untreated
pelvic inflammatory disease might cause scar tissue. You might also develop collections of
infected fluid (abscesses) in your fallopian tubes, which could damage your reproductive organs.
PID might cause only mild signs and symptoms or none at all. When severe, PID might
cause fever, chills, severe lower abdominal or pelvic pain especially during a pelvic exam and
bowel discomfort. PID can become extremely dangerous, even life-threatening, if the infection
spreads to your blood. If you suspect that you may have an infection, see your doctor as soon as
possible.
COMPLICATIONS OF PELVIC INFLAMMATORY
DISEASE
The fallopian tubes can become scarred and narrowed if they're affected by PID. This can
make it difficult for eggs to pass from the ovaries into the womb. This can then increase your
chances of having an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the fallopian tubes instead of the womb)
in the future, and can make some women infertile. It's estimated around 1 in 10 women with PID
become infertile as a result of the condition.
Women who have delayed treatment or had repeated episodes of PID are most at risk.But
most women treated for PID are still able to get pregnant without any problems.