Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID for short) is an infection of the upper female reproductive organs. It usually occurs when sexually transmitted bacteria move from the vagina into pelvic organs, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or womb.
It affects approximately 5% of women in the United States, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Pelvic inflammatory disease is a very dangerous condition that can severely damage a woman’s reproductive organs and even lead to death if the infection gets into the bloodstream. Hence, it is important to see a doctor ASAP if you think you might have an infection.
The symptoms and signs of pelvic inflammatory disease can be mild or hard to notice. Some people do not even have any symptoms at all. So, you may not know you have the condition until you’re experiencing difficulty becoming pregnant or suffering from chronic pelvic pain. However, below are some of the most common PID symptoms:
While pelvic inflammatory disease may only cause mild or moderate pain, the symptoms can be more severe in some women. Consult your physician or get immediate medical care if you have symptoms like:
Even if you are experiencing mild PID symptoms, it’s still important to see a doctor ASAP. Remember that painful urination, bleeding between periods, and foul vaginal discharge can also be signs of a sexually transmitted infection. If you notice any of these symptoms, abstain from sex and consult a doctor as soon as possible. Early medical treatment of an STI can save you from pelvic inflammatory disease.
Although different types of bacteria can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, approximately 90% of PID cases are due to untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia. Usually, the bacteria are introduced into the body during unprotected sexual intercourse.
Though rare, bacteria can also enter the reproductive tract when the barrier created by the cervix gets disturbed. This may occur during abortion, miscarriage, menstrual flow, or after delivery. In some rare cases, bacteria can also be introduced into the female reproductive tract while inserting an intrauterine device (IVF) or during any gynecological procedures that involve passing instruments into the womb.
A lot of factors can raise your risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease. These include:
There’s also a little risk of PID following an IUD insertion, although this risk is limited to the first few weeks after insertion.
Left untreated, pelvic inflammatory disease can cause scar tissue and abscesses (pockets of infected fluid) to form in the female reproductive tract. These may cause long-term damage to the reproductive organs.
Complications due to this damage may include:
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a leading cause of ectopic or tubal pregnancy. It occurs when untreated pulmonary inflammatory disease causes scar tissue to be formed in the fallopian tubes. This scar tissue can stop the fertilized egg (embryo) from passing through the uterine tube into the womb, causing the egg to implant in the tube instead. Ectopic pregnancies can lead to heavy, life-threatening bleeding and need immediate medical attention.
Any damage to the female reproductive organs can lead to infertility- that is, the inability to conceive after months of trying. Over 1 million American women get pelvic inflammatory disease every year, and it is the reason why more than 100,000 women are unable to have children. The more times you have had this disease, the lower your chances of becoming pregnant. Not getting treated for this disease early can significantly raise your risk of infertility.
Pelvic inflammatory disease may result in pelvic pain that doesn’t go away for months or even years. Scarring in the uterine tubes and other reproductive organs can also cause pain during ovulation and sexual intercourse.
Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause an abscess (a painful collection of pus) to develop in the female genital tract. Although abscesses are commonly found in ovaries and fallopian tubes, they can also occur in the womb or other pelvic organs. An untreated abscess can make you develop a fatal infection.
Your physician can know if you have PID after hearing your symptoms. Most times, your doctor will conduct the following tests to establish the diagnosis:
Tests may include:
Once your samples are collected, they are sent to a laboratory for analysis.
If your physician detects that you have PID, they may perform additional tests and check the pelvis for damage. Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes and permanently damage your reproductive organs.
Other tests that may be conducted are:
Your physician may suggest you take antibiotics to treat pelvic inflammatory disease. Since the doctor might not know the exact bacterial responsible for your infection, they may prescribe two or more different kinds of antibiotics to combat a wide range of bacteria.
You may find out that your symptoms improve or disappear within some days of beginning treatment. But it is important to complete your medication even if you are feeling better. This is because your symptoms may come back if you stop your medication early.
For women who are pregnant or ill, cannot take drugs, or have an abscess in their pelvis, physicians may recommend that they go to a hospital for necessary treatment.
In some cases, pelvic inflammatory disease may require a surgical operation. However, this is uncommon and only needed if an abscess in the pelvis bursts or if your physician thinks that an abscess will burst. Surgery may also be required if the infection is not responding to PID treatment.
The bacteria responsible for PID can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. If you regularly have sex, you should also make sure your partner gets treated for pelvic inflammatory disease. Men may unknowingly carry the bacteria that cause PID.
If your partner does not get treated, your infection may reappear. It will also be good to stay away from sex until the infection has been fully treated.
To lower your chances of having pelvic inflammatory disease:
Make sure to use a condom each time you have sex, reduce the number of your sexual partners, and ask your potential partner’s about their sexual history.
A lot of contraception doesn’t offer any protection against PID. However, barrier methods like condoms are known to reduce your risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease. Even if you do take contraceptive pills, it is still advisable to use a condom each time you want to sleep with a new partner to avoid contracting sexually transmitted infections.
If you are likely to contract a sexually transmitted infection, arrange an appointment with your doctor to get tested. If necessary, have a regular screening schedule set up with your physician. Treating an STI in the early stages gives you the best chance of preventing pelvic inflammatory disease.
If you are suffering from an STI or pelvic inflammatory disease, request that your partner get tested and treated. This will help stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections and prevent PID from recurring.
Douching may affect the balance of good and harmful bacteria in the vagina.
Unfortunately, yes. It is possible to be infected again after you have had PID. Having pelvic inflammatory disease once does not stop you from recurring.
Although surgery is not common, it can be helpful in some cases. If you are still experiencing symptoms of PID or have an abscess after using antibiotics, speak to your doctor about surgery.
Let your partner know if you have PID. They should also receive treatment for your and their sake. Else, you may develop pelvic inflammatory disease again when you start having sex.
It’s recommended that you and your partner wait a week or more after completing your antibiotics before resuming sexual intercourse. This will help reduce the risk of being re-infected.
If you notice any PID symptoms, consult your doctor as soon as possible. And if you had sex without protection, it is good to speak to your healthcare provider even if you don’t experience any symptoms. The earlier you receive treatment, the higher the chance that it will work. Early treatment also lowers your chances of developing severe complications.
Of course, it is possible to have pelvic inflammatory disease or an STI if you are a women who have sex with women only.
Speak to your partner about her sexual history before intercourse, and inform your physician about getting screened for symptoms or signs of pelvic inflammatory disease.
Pelvic inflammatory disease can be treated, and most women fully recover from the condition.
However, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 1 out of 8 women who have had PID find it difficult to become pregnant. Moreover, after three episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease, the infertility rate reaches up to 50%.
Fortunately, a lot of these women can still conceive through assisted reproductive technologies such as IUI, IVF, etc. To learn more about the pelvic inflammatory disease and available fertility treatments to overcome its effects, please feel free to get in touch with us to schedule a consultation or using the chat option.
Chief Strategy Officer Julianna Nikolic leads strategic initiatives, focusing on growth, innovation, and patient-centered solutions in the reproductive sciences sector. With 26+ years of management experience and a strong entrepreneurial background, she brings deep expertise to advancing reproductive healthcare.
Chief Strategy Officer Julianna Nikolic leads strategic initiatives, focusing on growth, innovation, and patient-centered solutions in the reproductive sciences sector. With 26+ years of management experience and a strong entrepreneurial background, she brings deep expertise to advancing reproductive healthcare.
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