PID is most common among younger women who have sex, especially with multiple partners. It rarely happens after menopause.
Many types of bacteria can cause PID. The bacteria found in 2 common sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea and chlamydia) are the most frequent causes. Normal bacteria found in the vagina and on the cervix can cause PID, but this is rare.
PID may also happen:
Sometimes there are no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include:
Your healthcare provider will ask about symptoms and give you a pelvic exam. Sometimes the pelvic exam is very uncomfortable due to pain in the uterus and tubes.
You may have the following tests:
You may have a test to see if you are pregnant because abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding can be symptoms of an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that takes place outside the uterus.
You may need to have laparoscopy to confirm the diagnosis of PID. Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure done while you are under anesthesia. Your healthcare provider makes a small cut near your bellybutton and inserts a thin tube with a light and tiny camera through the cut. Your provider can then look at the organs in your abdomen and pelvis. If you have PID, your tubes and ovaries will be swollen and inflamed. Your provider may see pus, sores, or scar tissue on or around the female organs. Your provider may remove a sample of tissue (biopsy) for lab tests.
If your healthcare provider suspects you have PID, he or she may talk to you about testing for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which is the virus that causes AIDS.
PID is usually treated with antibiotic medicine.
If you have pus in your pelvis (an abscess), you may need surgery to remove or drain it. If you have an IUD, your healthcare provider will probably remove it.
Your provider may prescribe pain medicine.
If your provider thinks your infection may be caused by a sexually transmitted disease, your sexual partner must be examined and treated as well to prevent spread of the infection and to keep you from getting infected again. Do not have sex until both you and your partner have finished all of the medicine.
Your healthcare provider will probably want to see you again 2 to 3 days after you start your medicine. Your provider will check you to make sure the medicine has the infection under control. You also need to be checked 1 week after you finish all of the medicine to make sure that the infection is gone.
You will start to feel better 2 to 3 days after starting the treatment. Make sure you finish all the medicine as prescribed.
If the infection is not treated, it could spread to other parts of your body or create an abscess in the fallopian tubes or ovaries. It might cause chronic (long lasting) pelvic pain.
PID can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes. This scarring could make it hard for you to get pregnant. Prompt and complete treatment is very important to try to keep your ability to have children. Scarring of the fallopian tubes also increases your risk of having a tubal pregnancy.
The following practices may help prevent PID:
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How can I help prevent pelvic inflammatory disease?
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This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
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