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Pelvic inflammatory disease (or PID for short) is a common infection that women can get.

• About 1 in 7 women get pelvic inflammatory disease at some point in their life.
• It can affect the the womb, the tubes (fallopian tubes) that lead from the ovaries to the womb or the ovaries.
• It happens after a sexually transmitted infection (such as chlamydia). But you can also get pelvic inflammatory disease when you give birth, have an abortion or have an intrauterine device (IUD).
• It's serious. The more often you get pelvic inflammatory disease, the greater your chances of being infertile.
• It can also cause an ectopic pregnancy. If the fertilized egg can't get down the fallopian tube, it embeds in the tube instead of in the womb.
• You can reduce your chances of getting pelvic inflammatory disease by using a barrier method of contraception, such as condoms or a diaphragm and spermicidal cream.

• Discharge from the vagina
• Pain when you urinate
• Pain in the lower part of your belly
• Fever and chills (shakes)
• Nausea.

If you have any of these symptoms, or if you've had them in the past, you should see your doctor. Pelvic inflammatory disease can be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics can kill the bacteria that caused the infection, but they can't undo any damage that's already been done to your fallopian tubes.

Sometimes this condition doesn't have any symptoms so you may not know that you have it.¹ To find out more, see our articles on Pelvic inflammatory disease.

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 2008. All rights reserved.