 Medical
information
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is the term used for an infection of the female reproductive organs. It most often occurs when bacteria infect the cervix (the neck of the uterus) and the infection spreads to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, causing these organs to become inflamed.
If left untreated, PID can cause permanent scarring (adhesions) of the pelvic organs, chronic pain and infertility (or sterility). In advanced cases, the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum) may become involved and result in inflammation of the peritoneum (peritonitis).
The symptoms of PID vary according to the cause and severity of the disease. In the early stages, symptoms may be absent or mild, and the infection may be advanced before a woman seeks help.
Symptoms may include:
- lower abdominal pain
- tenderness or dull ache in the abdomen
- abnormal vaginal discharge
- pain when passing urine
- abnormal vaginal bleeding
- painful sexual intercourse
- fever and chills
- nausea and vomiting
PID can occur at any age but is most likely to occur in younger sexually active women. Factors that may put a woman at risk for PID include:
- unprotected sexual activity
- having multiple sex partners
- having a partner who is, or has been, sexually active with more than one person
- previous pelvic infections
- regular douching (squirting water into the vagina), which can remove the natural protective mucus from the cervix; water skiing may also contribute to this effect
- insertion of an intrauterine device or IUD (usually only within the first three weeks after insertion).
The information above is reproduced from 'PELVIC INFLAMMATORY
DISEASE - a guide for Women', published by the Royal Australian
and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
and Mi-tec Medical Publishing. The complete pamphlet is available
from your doctor.
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