06/08/2020
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs that’s often spread by s*xual contact. PID symptoms can include a dull pain in the lower abdomen, yellow or greenish vaginal discharge, and irregular periods. If not treated properly, PID can come back again.
What are the risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
Women with s*xually transmitted diseases — especially gonorrhea and chlamydia — are at greater risk for developing PID.
Women with many s*xual partners are at greater risk for s*xually transmitted diseases and PID.
Women who have already had PID are at higher risk for another episode.
Sexually active teenagers are more likely to develop PID than are older women.
Some studies suggest that douching may contribute to PID. Douching may push bacteria into the upper ge***al tract and may mask the discharge that could cause a woman to seek medical attention.
Causes: PID occurs when the disease-causing organisms travel from the cervix to the upper ge***al tract. Untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia cause about 90% of all cases of PID. Other causes include abortion, childbirth, and pelvic procedures.
Symptoms:
Dull pain or tenderness in the stomach or lower abdominal area, or pain in the right upper abdomen(though this is much less common).
Abnormal vaginal discharge that is yellow or green in color and has an unusual odor.
Irregular periods.
Spotting or cramping throughout the month.
Chills or high fever.
Nausea and vomiting.
Pain during s*x.
Treatment:
Treatment with antibiotics needs to be started quickly, before the results of the swabs are available.
PID is usually caused by a variety of different bacteria, even in cases where chlamydia, gonorrhoea or mycoplasma ge***alium is identified.
This means you'll be given a mixture of antibiotics to cover the most likely infections.
Tell your doctor if you think you may be pregnant before starting antibiotic treatment, as some antibiotics should be avoided during pregnancy.
You'll usually have to take the antibiotic tablets for 14 days, sometimes beginning with a single antibiotic injection.
It's very important to complete the entire course of antibiotics, even if you're feeling better, to help ensure the infection is properly cleared.
In particularly severe cases of PID, you may have to be admitted to hospital to receive antibiotics through a drip in your arm (intravenously).
If you have pain around your pelvis or tummy, you can take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen while you're being treated with antibiotics. You should avoid having s*x until both you and your partner have completed the course of treatment.
If you haven't had a s*xual partner in the previous 6 months, your most recent partner should be tested and treated.
