What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of a woman's reproductive organs. It is caused by bacteria that spread from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other areas of the reproductive tract.

 

As per research, PID affected 23.6% of US women who had their sexual debut before 12 [1]. Symptoms can include pain in the lower abdomen, abnormal vaginal discharge, fever, and irregular menstrual bleeding.

 

PID can lead to serious complications such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. Usually, these complications are irreversible and have a great chance of occurrence [2]. It is important to seek medical treatment if you suspect you have PID.

 

Early diagnosis and treatment of PID are important to prevent long-term complications. Treatment typically includes antibiotics and other medications to help manage symptoms. In some cases, the patient may need surgery to remove any abscesses or scar tissue that has developed as a result of PID.

 

 

 

What are the Symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

Symptoms of PID can include:

• lower abdominal pain
• pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) [3]
• fever,
• chills
• irregular menstrual bleeding
• unusual vaginal discharge.

 

Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and lower back or leg pain. Early detection and treatment are key to preventing long-term health complications.

 

 

What are the Causes of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

 

The most common cause of PID is a sexually transmitted infection, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or Mycoplasma genitalium (an emerging cause of PID) [4]. Other causes include bacteria from the vagina or rectum entering the uterus or an intrauterine device (IUD) that has been inserted incorrectly.

 

PID can also be caused by a uterine infection that spreads to the fallopian tubes. Risk factors for PID include having unprotected sex, having multiple sexual partners, or being sexually active before age 25.

 

 

Treatment Options for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease:

 

Treatment options for PID vary depending on the cause, severity, and individual circumstances. The doctors usually suggest broad-spectrum antimicrobials [5]. Commonly available treatment options include:

• Medications: antibiotics, such as doxycycline, levofloxacin, cefoxitin, or clindamycin, to reduce the infection. Moreover, painkillers and antipyretics are also commonly used.

 

• Surgical procedures: such as laparoscopy, may be necessary to remove the scar or infected tissue.

 

Plenty of fluids and rest also play a major role in the recovery from PID. If PID has caused infertility, in vitro fertilization may be recommended. It is important to follow the doctor's instructions and complete the entire course of antibiotics, even if symptoms improve.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

1- Prevalence of pelvic inflammatory disease U.S. women by age of sexual debut 2014 | Statista

2- Chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease | Human Reproduction Update | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

3- Identification of Symptoms that Indicate a Pelvic Examination is Necessary to Exclude PID in Adolescent Women - ScienceDirect

4- Mycoplasma genitalium: An Emerging Cause of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (hindawi.com)

5- Pelvic inflammatory disease: medical treatment - ScienceDirect

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