Pelvic Inflammatory
What is pelvic inflammatory disease?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is infection of the reproductive organs of women. This may include infection of:
- The Uterus (womb)
- The Cervix
- The fallopian tubes (these are the tiny tubes between the ovary and the womb – eggs released by the ovary pass through these tubes) the ovaries
- The infections that can cause PID include:
PID can reason severe illness in a woman, need treatment in hospital. However, sometimes PID can happen without causing any signs or indication. That is, the woman may not feel sick and may not notice any change in her body. PID is a very serious illness because it can lead to long term problems.PID is one of the leading reasons of infertility in women.
Risk factors
The primary risk factor for PID is infection with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) – in particular, Chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
Risk factors for these STIs include:
- Engaging in unsafe sex
- Having sex with more than one partner
- Being in a sexual relationship with someone who has several sex partners
Symptoms
Women can have PID without any signs or symptoms. Women may notice:
- Pain low in the abdomen
- Abnormal periods
- Abnormal discharge
- Evers
- Some women become very sick and have severe pain
Diagnoses
The doctor can test for PID by:
- Examining and taking swabs from your vagina and cervix
- Testing urine for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea
- Feeling the cervix, uterus and ovaries for any sign of tenderness or pain
- Doing blood tests
