Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection and inflammation of the female reproductive organs. It can scar the tubes that carry eggs from the ovary to the uterus which can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic pain and other problems. PID is the most common preventable cause of infertility in the United States. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the most common causes, but other bacteria can also cause PID.

You are at risk if you

Are sexually active and younger than 25
Have more than one sex partner
Douche

Some women have no symptoms. Others have pain in the lower abdomen, fever, smelly vaginal discharge, irregular bleeding or pain during intercourse. Antibiotics can cure PID. Early treatment is important – waiting too long increases the risk of infertility.

National Women's Health Information Center

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease on Wikipedia

'''Pelvic inflammatory disease''' (or '''disorder''') ('''PID''') is a generic term for infection of the female uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries as it progresses to scar formation with adhesions to nearby tissues and organs. This may lead to tissue necrosis with/or without abscess formation. Pus can be released into the peritoneum. 2/3 of patients with laparoscopic evidence of previous PID were not aware they had had PID (Cecil's 5th ed). PID is often associated with, because it is a common result of infection with, sexually transmitted diseases. PID is a vague term and can also refer to viral, or fungal, or parasitic, but usually with bacterial infections. PID should be classified by affected organs, the stage of the infection, and the organism(s) causing it. Although very commonly a sexually transmitted infection is the likely cause, other routes are possible for some agents including lymphatic, often postpartum, postabortal (either miscarriage or abortion) or IUD related, and blood spread.

epidemiology

In the United States, more than one million women are affected by PID each year, and the rate is highest with teenagers. Approximately 50,000 women become infertile in the US each year from PID [1]. gonorrhea is isolated in only 40-60% of women with acute salpingitis (current obgyn 9th ed 2003). chlamydia was estimated by current obgyn 9th ed to be the cause in about 60% of cases of [salpingitis], which may lead to PID. It is unsure how much is due to a single organism and how much is due to multiple organisms; many other pathogens that are in normal vaginal flora become involved in PID. 10% of women in one study had asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis infection and 65% had asymptomatic infection with N. gonorrhoea (current obgyn 9th ed.) It was noted in one study that 10-40% of untreated women with N. gonorrhoea ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Women's Health - Offers information about issues such as heavy bleeding, fibroids, hysterectomy, menopause and hormones, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ovarian problems.

Alternatives to Hysterectomy: Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Surgical and other treatment options for severe pelvic inflammatory disease which may avoid the need for hysterectomy.

Fact Sheet: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Information about PID from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - Causes, testing, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Hub - A brief definition of pelvic inflammatory disease, followed by links to overviews, full text articles, diagnosis,treatment and prevention methods.

FAQs about PID - Information on what causes pelvic inflammatory disease, symptoms, risk factors, treatments and possible complications.

Medinfo: Pelvic inflammatory disease - Easy to understand information for patients on Pelvic inflammatory disease, a long lasting (chronic) infection affecting the womb (uterus), the tubes which deliver eggs to the womb (fallopian tubes) and the nearby structures in the lower abdomen.

The Effects of Undetected and Untreated Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Article from the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - About.com - Discussion about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

ParentsNest: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - Discusses the causes of PID, how to prevent it, and what your chances are of getting pregnant during.