What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a condition that affects many women, yet often remains under discussion and misunderstood. PID is an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs, which include the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes, and cervix. It develops when certain types of bacteria spread from the vagina to those organs. 

Normally, when bacteria enters your vagina, your cervix keeps it from spreading deeper into your organs; however, infection can disrupt your cervix, preventing it from doing its job. It is estimated that about 1 million women in the United States get PID each year. In addition, more than 100,000 women become infertile due to PID.

Without treatment, PID can lead to serious problems such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and tubo-ovarian abscess. 

The bacteria that enters into your fallopian tubes through PID can cause scarring. This scar tissue can block an egg from traveling to your uterus (womb), which is essential for pregnancy. 

Although antibiotics can treat PID, they cannot fix permanent damage done to your internal organs.

Causes of PID

Many types of bacteria can cause PID. The most common infections that lead to PID are gonorrhea and chlamydia, which are responsible for 90% of cases. These infections are spread through unprotected sex, and often go unnoticed due to mild or absent symptoms, allowing the bacteria to spread. 

PID can also occur when normal bacteria enters your reproductive tract anytime the normal barrier created by the cervix is disturbed.

This can occur after:

  • Childbirth
  • Pelvic Surgery
  • Miscarraige
  • Getting an intrauterine device (IUD), or any medical procedure that involves inserting instruments into the uterus

Some risk factors may increase your risk of developing PID, including:

  • Being sexually active and younger than 25 years of age
  • Having multiple sexual partners
  • Being in a sexual relationship with someone who has more than one partner
  • Having sex without a condom
  • Douching regularly, which upsets the balance of good versus harmful bacteria in the vagina and may mask symptoms
  • Having a history of PID or a sexually transmitted infection

Signs and Symptoms

Many women do not know they have PID because they are not experiencing symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can be mild or more serious. 

Symptoms include:

  • Pain in the lower abdomen (most common)
  • Fever (100.4°F or higher)
  • Vaginal discharge with a foul smell
  • Pain during sex
  • Pain when urinating
  • Irregular menstrual periods
  • Pain in the upper right abdomen (rare)

PID can occur quickly, with extreme pain and fever, especially when caused by gonorrhea. 

Misconceptions

Pelvic inflammatory disease is a significant health concern, yet several misconceptions surround it.

Only Sexually Transmitted Infections cause PID

While STIs are a primary cause of PID, it can also result from non-sexual activities such as childbirth, miscarriage, and pelvic surgery.

PID is Always Symptomatic 

PID is not always symptomatic. Many women may not experience noticeable symptoms, allowing the infection to cause significant damage before it is detected.

PID Can Be Cured with Over-the-Counter Medications

PID requires prescription antibiotics. Over-the-counter medications cannot treat the bacterial infections responsible for PID.

There are No Long-term Effects After Treatment

Even after successful treatment, PID can have long-term effects, including chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility.

PID Only Affects Reproductive Health

While PID primarily impacts reproductive health, it can also lead to broader health issues such as chronic pain and potentially dangerous infections if left untreated.

Diagnosis and Treatment

There is no single test that can diagnose pelvic inflammatory disease. Rather, your health care provider will rely on a combination of findings from your medical history, signs and symptoms you are experiencing, a pelvic exam, blood and urine tests, and an ultrasound. If a diagnosis cannot be made, additional tests may be needed such as a laparoscopy and endometrial biopsy.

Although there’s no way to reverse scarring or damage to the reproductive tract that PID may cause, treatment with antibiotics can cure the underlying infection. If you continue to experience symptoms after treatment, you may need surgery.

Additionally, there are ways to reduce your risk of pelvic inflammatory disease such as:

  • Practicing safe sex by using condoms when you have sex and limit your number of sexual partners
  • Getting tested for STIs if at risk for and request your partner be tested
  • Reduce douching: Douching upsets the balance of bacteria in your vagina, which protects you from infection.

Understanding PID is crucial for protecting your reproductive health. By recognizing the causes, symptoms, and misconceptions, you can take proactive steps to prevent and treat this condition. If you suspect you have PID or are at risk, contact CT Coastal, so we can ensure proper diagnosis and treatment!