Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is a serious and often misunderstood disease that affects the female reproductive system. It occurs when bacteria travel from the vagina or cervix into the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries, leading to inflammation and infection. This is a potentially life-changing health problem with serious consequences if not detected early — the most common causes of which are treatable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
Untreated PID can lead to long-term complications, such as chronic pelvic pain, infertility and a greater likelihood of ectopic pregnancy — when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus. These are not only physically painful but also find many women emotionally upsetting.
You must know causes and identify signs so as to get timely medical treatment. Now let’s take a closer look at why this causes PID, as well as what puts you at risk for it.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Causes
The commonest cause of PID is infection, and the commonest sexually transmitted infection causing PID in the UK are chlamydia and gonorrhoea. If these bacteria are not addressed quickly, they can crawl up into the upper reproductive tract, where they can wreak serious inflammation and damage.
But PID is not just linked to STIs. It can also be caused by other bacterial infections, including those that arise after childbirth, miscarriage, abortion or gynaecological procedures such as intrauterine device (IUD) insertion or pelvic surgery.
There are some risk factors that might increase the risk of PID. These include:
- Are under 25 years old and sexually active
- The reason is that having multiple sexual partners
- Engaging in unprotected sex
- Regular douching, which disrupts the balance of the natural bacteria in the vagina
- A sexual history of STIs or PID
Is pelvic inflammatory disease a sexually transmitted disease?
PID itself isn’t considered STIs, rather, it’s most frequently a complication of untreated STIs, which is why it’s almost always associated with sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Signs and Symptoms
That’s terrifying and one reason PID can be so dangerous: It often has mild symptoms or none at all. Where signs are observed, they are generally in the form of:
- Ongoing or severe lower abdominal pain
- Fever and chills
- Strange, foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Painful intercourse
- Urinary burning sensation
- Irregular menstrual periods or bleeding between periods
Some women will have what’s called “silent PID,” meaning that they will not display any noticeable symptoms until complications set in. That makes regular sexual health testing that much more critical.
But PID is a condition that primarily affects women; do men get pelvic inflammatory disease symptoms? Not exactly. Men can contract similar infections, such as epididymitis, an infection of the tube that carries sperm. These infections, while different from PID, also demand rapid therapy.
Inflammatory Pelvic Disease Diagnosis
PID is diagnosed with a physical exam and diagnostic tests. If a woman has symptoms consistent with PID, a health care provider typically will:
- Check for abdominal tenderness, cervical motion tenderness, or adnexal tenderness during a pelvic exam
- Screening for STIs using urine or swab tests
- Get blood tests to look for signs of infection
- Use ultrasound or MRI if an abscess is suspected
There is no single definitive test for PID, so it relies on a combination of clinical judgment and test results. Smooth diagnoses can help in avoiding complications and retaining fertility.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease During Pregnancy
PID is rare in pregnancy, but can be serious if it happens. The diagnosis significantly increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and preterm birth. Infections that go untreated before pregnancy can lead to infertility or scarring of the fallopian tubes and prevent natural conception.
That’s why STI testing before and during pregnancy is especially important, particularly for women with known risk factors.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Treatments
How is pelvic inflammatory disease treated in women?
Antibiotics — usually a cocktail to cover as many species of bacteria as possible — are the mainstay of care. Delayed resolution of infection and ossification, however, can lead to irreversible craniofacial structure damage. If the infection has already left scarring or chronic problems, the damage may be irreversible.
In more serious cases — which include an abscess or when the patient is very poorly — we might need to get them into hospital, and give them intravenous antibiotics. Occasionally abscesses require surgical drainage.
Can pelvic inflammatory disease be cured?
Yes, if caught early and treated promptly. But the injury to reproductive organs that takes place prior to treatment can be permanent.
Can it be treated at home?
Oral antibiotics are typically taken at home, but rest, hydration and avoiding sex until treatment is completed are key to recovery.
Is PID treatable?
Definitely — but getting diagnosed early and getting to treatment promptly is crucial.
Prevention and Long-Term Outlook
The best way to reduce your chances of developing PID is to practice safe sex:
- Have new or multiple partners always use a condom
- Get regular STI screenings
- Forget the douching, which can disturb the normal vaginal flora
- When one partner has an STI, both partners should be treated
If left untreated, PID can cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility and recurrent infections. These results demonstrate how critical it is to take PID not only seriously, but proactively.
Conclusion
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is preventable and treatable — but only when it’s diagnosed early. Untreated PID of any origin — an STI or some other bacterial infection — can cause silent reproductive damage to you.
If you feel any symptoms — or just want peace of mind — don’t delay. It needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
If you think you may have PID, or if you are due for a sexual health check, book a consultation with us today to see a sexual health specialist, who will be happy to assist you.
