Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Often caused by a sexually transmitted disease, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) doesn't always have noticeable symptoms, but it can lead to more serious health problems down the line.

What exactly is PID?
PID is a catch-all term for any serious bacterial infection of the reproductive organs including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. PID usually starts in the vagina and can go on to infect other organs if not treated.

What are the symptoms of PID?
Sometimes there are no symptoms, or the symptoms get misread as being something else. But some women experience symptoms such as:
Abdominal pain and tenderness, Fever, chills and general discomfort, heavy, painful periods or periods that last longer than normal, vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse or abscesses in the lips at the entrance to the vagina.

What causes PID?
At least 60% of PID cases are caused by sexually transmitted disease (STD). Chlamydia is the 'bug' most responsible for PID in women in the UK, but Gonorrhoea can also be a cause. Occasionally, PID can be the result of having sex with a new partner, and for some women PID has resulted from a having a termination or following childbirth. Rarely, PID originates in the bowel or may spread to the pelvic organs by way of the bloodstream. But often no specific reason can be found.

How do I know if I have PID?
Usually symptoms and signs of infection are enough for your doctor to make a diagnosis of PID. Detecting tenderness or a lump next to the uterus can often lead to a diagnosis of PID. Blood tests or vaginal and cervical swabs will also sometimes be taken. It may be necessary in some instances for the inside of the pelvis to be examined using laparoscopy to detect any inflammatory changes. Samples are also taken from the neck of the womb to try to identify the organism responsible for the infection.

How do you treat PID?
Your GP will normally prescribe antibiotics and advise you to rest at home and to keep warm. Hospitalisation is rarely necessary. Inflammation will usually go away in a week or two, but if soreness or pain remains, it could be a sign that the infection has not gone away, or that it has returned. If Chlamydia has been diagnosed, it will be recommended that any sexual partners be tested, and treated if necessary also. Women who are using an IUD or IUS for contraception and are at risk of PID may be advised to try alternative contraception.

What if PID goes untreated?
If PID goes untreated it can become chronic. Abscesses can form in the pelvis, requiring surgery. This can result in the loss of an ovary, a Fallopian tube, and occasionally, the removal of the womb in a hysterectomy. Fortunately, most women seek advice early and receive proper treatment to prevent this from happening. PID can also cause ectopic pregnancies and infertility.

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