Pelvic inflammatory disease
What is pelvic inflammatory disease?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (called PID for short) happens only to women. It means you have an infection in your reproductive organs. These organs include your uterus, your ovaries, your fallopian tubes (which carry the eggs from your ovaries to your uterus) and surrounding parts of your pelvis.
Although PID is quite common, it's not always easy to tell whether you have it. This is because the symptoms you get at the
time can be mild. Or you may not feel ill at all.
PID can cause fertility problems and make it hard for you to get pregnant.
But if you have PID, you will need to be treated quickly with
antibiotics.
antibiotics
These medications are used to help your immune system fight infection. There are a number of different types of antibiotics that work in different ways to get rid of bacteria, parasites and other infectious agents. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.
These medications are used to help your immune system fight infection. There are a number of different types of antibiotics that work in different ways to get rid of bacteria, parasites and other infectious agents. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.
If you're not treated quickly, your reproductive organs may get damaged. This can cause serious problems.
PID is almost always caused by an infection that you get from having sex (a
sexually transmitted infection).
sexually transmitted infection
An infection that is spread by people having sex is called a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Examples are HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
An infection that is spread by people having sex is called a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Examples are HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
PID happens when an infection that starts in your vagina affects your
cervix (the neck of the uterus) and then travels further to your uterus, your
fallopian tubes and your
ovaries. The infection can make your reproductive organs
inflamed (swollen).
cervix
The cervix is a piece of tissue that sits between a woman's womb and her vagina. It has a small opening in it that gets much bigger when a woman is having a baby.
The cervix is a piece of tissue that sits between a woman's womb and her vagina. It has a small opening in it that gets much bigger when a woman is having a baby.
fallopian tubes
Fallopian tubes are the two tubes that come out of the top of a woman's womb. They carry eggs from the ovaries to the womb.
Fallopian tubes are the two tubes that come out of the top of a woman's womb. They carry eggs from the ovaries to the womb.
ovaries
Women have two ovaries, one on each side of their womb. They are small glands that store eggs. Inside the ovaries are millions of pre-eggs, called follicles. Some of these grow into eggs.
Women have two ovaries, one on each side of their womb. They are small glands that store eggs. Inside the ovaries are millions of pre-eggs, called follicles. Some of these grow into eggs.
inflammation
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
If your fallopian tubes get inflamed, they may eventually get blocked by scar tissue. The scar tissue can stop your eggs from
traveling from your ovaries to your uterus. This makes it hard for you to get pregnant. And if you do get pregnant, the baby
may start growing part way along your fallopian tube, instead of in the uterus. This is called an
ectopic pregnancy.
1
ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg lodges itself outside of your womb. This can be a dangerous condition.
An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg lodges itself outside of your womb. This can be a dangerous condition.
Source:
US Department of Health and Human Services.
Pelvic inflammatory disease.
April 2007. Available at http://womenshealth.gov/faq/stdpids.htm (accessed on 30 April 2009).
US Department of Health and Human Services.
Pelvic inflammatory disease.
April 2007. Available at http://womenshealth.gov/faq/stdpids.htm (accessed on 30 April 2009).
The infection is often caused by sexually transmitted
bacteria. These bacteria cause the sexually transmitted diseases called
gonorrhea or
chlamydia. But other bacteria also may cause the infection.
2
bacteria
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.
gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is an infection you can get by having sex without a condom. If you're a man, it can cause pain in the tube (the urethra) inside your penis and give you a milky discharge from your penis. If you're a woman, it may not cause you any pain or irritation, but it can damage your tubes and ovaries, making you infertile.
Gonorrhea is an infection you can get by having sex without a condom. If you're a man, it can cause pain in the tube (the urethra) inside your penis and give you a milky discharge from your penis. If you're a woman, it may not cause you any pain or irritation, but it can damage your tubes and ovaries, making you infertile.
chlamydia
Chlamydia is an infection you can get by having sex without a condom. It can cause pain or discomfort and discharge from your sexual organs. If you're a woman, it can also cause infertility or a painful infection inside your body.
Chlamydia is an infection you can get by having sex without a condom. It can cause pain or discomfort and discharge from your sexual organs. If you're a woman, it can also cause infertility or a painful infection inside your body.
Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pelvic inflammatory disease.
Available at http://www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm (accessed on 30 April 2009).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pelvic inflammatory disease.
Available at http://www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm (accessed on 30 April 2009).
Any sexually active woman can get PID. But some women are more at risk than others. You're most likely to get PID if:
2
Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pelvic inflammatory disease.
Available at http://www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm (accessed on 30 April 2009).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pelvic inflammatory disease.
Available at http://www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm (accessed on 30 April 2009).
- You are younger than 25 years
- You've had at least one or more sexually transmitted infections
- You've had PID before
- You have more than one sex partner (the more partners you have, the higher your chances of PID)
- You've recently had an intrauterine contraceptive device (also called IUD or coil for short) inserted.
Sources for the information on this page:
- US Department of Health and Human Services.Pelvic inflammatory disease.April 2007. Available at http://womenshealth.gov/faq/stdpids.htm (accessed on 30 April 2009).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pelvic inflammatory disease.Available at http://www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm (accessed on 30 April 2009).
This information was last updated on May 01, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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