Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

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What is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?



How do I know if I have PID?


  • A dull pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen.
  • Chills, high fever, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
  • Pain during sex.
  • Low back pain.
  • Painful urination.


What should I do if I have symptoms of PID?



How does a woman get PID?

There are several ways women can get PID. The most common way is by having sex with a person who has gonorrhea or chlamydia. These diseases are carried in the semen and other body fluids of infected people. During sexual contact, the germs spread to the woman’s cervix. The germs can also infect the glands at the opening of the vagina, the urethra (passageway for urine) or the anus.

Sometimes women get PID without being exposed to gonorrhea or chlamydia. In these cases, doctors aren’t sure why the bacteria in the vagina spread into the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing PID.

Rarely, PID can also occur if bacteria infect your internal organs as a result of giving birth, or having a miscarriage, an abortion or a procedure to take a sample from the inside of the womb for laboratory testing. Sometimes PID can occur after the cervix is treated because of an abnormal Pap smear or after the insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD). However, this is not common.

What are the risk factors for PID?

The same things that put you at risk for STIs also put you at risk for PID. Risk factors for PID include:

  • Being a sexually active woman younger than 25 years of age.
  • Having multiple sexual partners.
  • Having unsafe sexual habits.
  • Douching regularly (which can flush the bacteria up into your genital tract).


How do I practice safe sex?


Remember, only a condom can provide some protection against STIs. Other forms of birth control don’t provide this protection.


How is PID treated?



Should my partner be treated if I have PID?

If you are treated for PID, especially if it’s caused by an STI, your partner must also be treated. Unless your partner is treated, you may be infected again. Making good choices about sexual contact is important. If you think you might have PID, talk to your family doctor right away.


What can happen to my body if I get PID?

Early and complete treatment can help prevent complications of PID. However, if PID isn’t treated, it can cause permanent damage to your internal organs. Scar tissue can form in the fallopian tubes and around the abdomen. This tissue can prevent pregnancy or cause the pregnancy to form outside the uterus (called a tubal or ectopic pregnancy). Scarring can cause pain that lasts for months or even years. Occasionally, the effects of PID can be so severe that surgery is required to remove pus, get rid of scar tissue or remove damaged organs.

PID is more likely to come back if you are exposed to STIs again. Each time you have PID causes more damage and a greater possibility of complications.


Questions to Ask Your Doctor

  • What is the likely cause of my pelvic inflammatory disease?
  • Do I need any tests?
  • What do my test results mean?
  • What treatment option do you recommend?
  • Does my sexual partner need to be treated too?
  • Is it safe for me to have sex now, or do I need to wait until after treatment?
  • Do I have scar tissue or other damage to my organs?
  • Will I have trouble getting pregnant?