ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

What is pelvic inflammatory disease (pid)?

4 May 2021

It is a condition in which the female reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes) have an infection due to the presence of bacteria that go from the vagina to the cervix, mainly due to sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Several factors can increase the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, such as:

  • History of pelvic inflammatory disease.
  • Having a sexually transmitted infection.
  • Having sex with someone who has numerous sexual partners.
  • It is more common in women under 26 who have sex regularly.
  • Having sex with multiple partners.
  • Having unprotected sex.
  • Having vaginal baths regularly can upset the balance between good and bad bacteria.

Signs and symptoms Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Although some women may not experience symptoms and realize that they have it until they develop severe pelvic pain or have problems getting pregnant, the characteristic symptoms consist of:

  • Painful intercourse.
  • Sore abdomen and pelvis.
  • Scarce or frequent and painful urination.
  • High fever.
  • Vaginal stench with abundant flow.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Bleeding in the uterus during sexual intercourse.

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important that, in addition to avoiding having sex, you see your gynecologist as soon as possible so that they can assess you and avoid complications that put your health at risk.

Potential risks:

  • Abscesses or scarring in the pelvic organs.
  • Permanent damage to the reproductive organs.
  • Chronic pelvic pain.
  • Ectopic pregnancy.
  • Sterility.
  • Scar tissue in the reproductive system.

Diagnosis and treatment Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Once your doctor reviews your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a physical and pelvic examination to look for signs of infection.

Likewise, they will request blood and urine tests, and other tests such as ultrasound, laparoscopy, and endometrial biopsy, to detect the cause of your pelvic inflammation.

The indicated treatment usually includes oral or intravenous antibiotics for a couple of weeks, depending on the case, to eliminate the infection that causes pelvic inflammatory disease. However, damage or scarring to the reproductive tract is irreversible.

To avoid reinfection, your sexual partner(s) should also be checked, and refrain from having sex until treatment is complete. If an abscess ruptures or is about to rupture, or does not respond to drug treatment, you may require surgery.

The main measure to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease is having safe sex, that is, using condoms, having sex with one partner, and getting regular tests for sexually transmitted infections before starting a relationship.

Comprehensive women’s health is our priority at the Women’s Center, so we offer services focused on women in all their chronological stages with the highest standards of care to improve their quality of life, through a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services. It has three specialized units:

Related centers and departments Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Women’s Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • dshs.texas.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • familydoctor.org
  • msdmanual.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Urgellés CSA, Aguilar AL, Reyes GE, et al. Uso de ozonoterapia en las pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica aguda Etapa III. Revista Cubana de Obstetricia y Ginecología. 2019;45(3):.
  • Vital-Reyes VS. Enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica y salud reproductiva . Rev Mex Med Repro. 2018;8.9(4):127-128.
  • Vásquez VL. Enfermedad pélvica inflamatoria. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2017;2(12):11-14.
  • Álvarez-Pabón Y, Sepúlveda-Agudelo J, Díaz-Martínez LA. Enfermedad pélvica inflamatoria: análisis retrospectivo. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2017;85(07):433-441.

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