Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and pregnancy
Pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID) is one of the most serious consequences of some bacterial
infections, including gonorrhea or chlamydia. The current number of people
infected with PID is unknown.
What are the symptoms of PID?
Women with PID may
have only mild pain or no symptoms, although severe damage to their internal
reproductive organs may occur. Some women with PID may experience the following
symptoms:
- Lower abdominal pain
- Fever
- Vaginal discharge
- Painful intercourse
Can PID cause other problems?
PID can cause
permanent damage through the formation of scar tissue on a woman's internal
reproductive organs. Scar tissue can completely block the fallopian tubes,
preventing sperm and egg from meeting and causing infertility.
About 100,000 women a
year begin to struggle with infertility as a result of PID. Scar tissue can
partially block or slightly damage the fallopian tube.
This can prevent a
fertilized egg from leaving the tube, which can lead to an ectopic or tubal pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy can rupture the fallopian tubes, causing severe pain,
internal bleeding, and even death. Scarring of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
can also lead to pelvic pain that lasts for months or even years.
What causes PID?
PID occurs as a
result of vaginal intercourse with a partner infected with gonorrhea or
chlamydia. The more sexual partners a woman has, the higher the risk of PID. PID
is a common progression of chlamydia, gonorrhea, or, in rare cases, bacterial
vaginosis.
How is PID diagnosed?
PID is difficult to
diagnose because the symptoms are often mild and many cases go unnoticed. There
are no specific tests for PID. If you are sexually active and have pain in your
lower abdomen, the first thing your doctor will likely do is take a culture
from your cervix to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. An ultrasound or possibly
surgery may be needed to diagnose PID.
How is PID treated?
The bacteria that
cause PID can be treated and treated with antibiotics taken orally or
intravenously. Damage from PID scarring is irreversible. About 25% of women
with PID require hospitalization for treatment.
Can PID be prevented?
There are only two
ways to prevent PID. First, refrain from sexual intercourse, which helps to
avoid infection with chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Second, be in a long-term monogamous relationship such as marriage. Condom use reduces the risk of transmission of chlamydia and gonorrhea, but does not prevent it. Using condoms reduces the risk by 50%.