What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs, usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI). If left untreated it can cause infertility. PID can also result in the case of an infection that spreads from the vagina and cervix (neck of the womb) to the womb (uterus), ovaries and fallopian tubes (the tubes that go from the ovaries to the womb). PID can become a long-term health problem and can regularly flare up and affect the quality of your life.
At Apollo Cradle, our healthcare professionals are experienced in diagnosing and providing the treatment for pelvic inflammatory disease. While there is no single test to diagnose PID, our doctors will diagnose you on the basis of your symptoms and a gynaecological examination. Schedule an appointment with our healthcare givers to ensure that you get a prompt diagnosis and treatment if needed.
Symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Symptoms associated with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease tend to vary. However, some of the common symptoms include:
- Irregular periods
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Painful sex
- Pain during urination
- Chills or high fever
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Vaginal discharge accompanied with foul smell
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
Impact of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PID is also one of the primary preventable causes of infertility. If you do not receive treatment for your pelvic infection in time, you may have flare-ups of the disease, or you could have an ectopic pregnancy (when the pregnancy occurs outside the uterus such as in the fallopian tubes). If a pregnancy occurs, it may be associated with complications such as a preterm pregnancy or passing on the infection to your newborn.
Who is at Risk of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?
Some factors put a woman at risk for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Patients who are most at risk for this condition include:
- Women who have had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease earlier
- Women with Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
- Women with many sexual partners are prone to STD and ultimately PID
- Teenagers who are sexually active
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Treatment
Mild cases of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease can be treated by antibiotic medication is taken orally. Severe cases, though, may require a combination of oral and intravenous antibiotics.
In case you have symptoms of nausea, high fever or vomiting, or you have symptoms that mimic an ectopic pregnancy, you might need to be hospitalised for a detailed examination. A pelvic exam will be performed that will confirm the tenderness in the pelvis. The exam will also help in identifying the location of the infection. Suitable treatment of PID will be started after swabs of your vagina and cervix are sent for examination.
It is essential to take the full course of antibiotics to cure the infection completely.
You may be advised a surgical procedure such as laparoscopy to confirm the diagnosis and also to deal with any adhesions that may have resulted from the infection and contribute to infertility.
