Pelvic inflammatory disease (pid)

[Julene]

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the upper female reproductive organs (the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries).

Pelvic inflammatory disease is usually transmitted during sexual intercourse with an infected partner.
Typically, women have pain in the lower abdomen, a vaginal discharge, and irregular vaginal bleeding.
The diagnosis is based on symptoms, analysis of secretions from the cervix and vagina, and sometimes ultrasonography.
Having sexual intercourse with only one partner and using condoms reduce the risk of infection.
Antibiotics can eliminate the infection.

Pelvic inflammatory disease may be an infection of

The cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that opens into the vagina (cervicitis)
The lining of the uterus (endometritis)
The fallopian tubes (salpingitis)
A combination of the above

If the infection is severe, it can

Spread to the ovaries (oophoritis)
Produce a collection of pus in the fallopian tubes (tubo-ovarian abscess)

Pelvic inflammatory disease is the most common preventable cause of infertility in the United States. Infertility occurs in about one of five women with pelvic inflammatory disease.
About one third of women who have had pelvic inflammatory disease develop the infection again.
Pelvic inflammatory disease usually occurs in sexually active women. It rarely affects girls before their first menstrual period (menarche) or women during pregnancy or after menopause. Risk is increased for the following women:

Those who are sexually active and younger than 35
Those whose partner does not use a condom
Those who have many or new sex partners
Those who have a sexually transmitted disease or bacterial vaginosis
Those who have had pelvic inflammatory disease before
Those of lower socioeconomic status (who usually have less access to health care)