Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Do you have sudden or severe inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic area?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) affects the female reproductive organs. It is a sexually transmitted bacterium that spreads from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. Surprisingly, there are no signs or symptoms to reveal the presence of pelvic inflammatory disease. Only when a woman is unable to become pregnant or has developed chronic pelvic pain, the doctor may check for pelvic inflammatory disease, and confirm its presence or absence.

CAUSES

Gonorrhea or chlamydia infections are considered to cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Unprotected coitus, insertion of intrauterine device (IUD), childbirth, miscarriage or abortion may result in the bacteria spreading to the reproductive tract.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include painful lower abdomen, heavy vaginal discharge, irregular menstrual bleeding, painful intercourse, fever and difficult urination. Importantly, pelvic inflammatory disease may cause minor signs or symptoms only and in many instances there may be no symptoms at all.

RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS

The risk of pelvic inflammatory disease is greater in women who are younger than 25 and having coitus with multiple partners. Women having unprotected coitus and those who had an IUD inserted may also be under the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. The complications of pelvic inflammatory disease include ectopic pregnancy, infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Ectopic pregnancy is a condition where the fertilized egg cannot reach the uterus, leads to life-threatening bleeding and requires emergency surgery. Those suffering from pelvic inflammatory disease have damaged reproductive organs.

TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS

The doctor may pose questions about the vaginal discharge and unpleasant odor, painful urination and intercourse. For further confirmation, the doctor may recommend tests like ultrasound, endometrial biopsy and laparoscopy. Ultrasound helps the doctor to study the images of the reproductive organs. In endometrial biopsy a small piece of the uterine lining is extracted and tested for pelvic inflammation disease. During laparoscopy the condition of the pelvic organs is studied.

PREVENTION

Prevention of pelvic inflammation disease is possible by taking the needful steps like not having multiple sexual partners and practicing safer coitus. When found to have pelvic inflammation disease, the partner (spouse) should also be referred to proper medical advice. Sexual abstinence during treatment assures treatment with a high success rate.