What is this?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection-induced inflammation of the upper genital tract in women, impacting the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. Typically, PID originates from an infection in the lower genital tract and ascends to affect the upper genital areas. Most instances of PID are associated with sexually transmitted infections.
PID often does not cause any noticeable
symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are typically mild and may include one
or more of the following:
●
Pain around the pelvis
or lower abdomen
●
Discomfort or pain
during sex, felt deep within the pelvis
●
Painful urination
●
Bleeding between periods
or after sex
●
Heavy menstrual periods
●
Painful periods
●
Unusual vaginal
discharge, especially if it is yellow, green, or has a foul odor
In some cases, individuals may become
very ill, experiencing:
●
Severe abdominal pain
●
High fever
●
Nausea and vomiting
Causes:
Most cases of PID result from a bacterial
infection that spreads from the vagina or cervix to the higher reproductive
organs.
- Various types of bacteria can cause PID.
- It is often caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like
chlamydia or gonorrhea.
- Another STI, mycoplasma genitalium, is increasingly linked to PID
cases.
- In many instances, bacteria that normally reside in
the vagina are the cause.
Treatment:
Antibiotics
●
Immediate Treatment: Start antibiotics
quickly, even before swab results are available.
●
Multiple Bacteria: PID usually involves
various bacteria, even with identified infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, or
mycoplasma genitalium.
●
Combination Therapy: You'll receive a mix
of antibiotics to cover the most likely infections.
●
Pregnancy Consideration: Inform your doctor if
you might be pregnant, as some antibiotics are unsuitable during pregnancy.
●
Course Duration: Typically, take
antibiotics for 14 days, starting with a single injection.
●
Complete the Course: Finish all
antibiotics, even if you feel better, to ensure the infection clears.
●
Severe Cases: Severe PID may require hospital
admission for intravenous antibiotics.
●
Pain Management: Take painkillers like paracetamol
or ibuprofen for pelvic or abdominal pain during treatment.
Follow-up
●
Initial Check-up: A follow-up
appointment 3 days after starting treatment may be advised to assess antibiotic
effectiveness.
●
End of Course Check: Another follow-up at
the end of the antibiotic course may be necessary to confirm successful
treatment.
●
Lack of Improvement: If symptoms haven't
improved within 3 days, further tests and treatment at a hospital may be
needed.
●
IUD Consideration: If you have an IUD and
symptoms don't improve, removal may be suggested as it could be causing the
infection.
Treating Sexual Partners
●
Partner Testing: Sexual partners from
the last 6 months should be tested and treated to prevent recurrence and
spread, even without a specific cause identified.
●
Long-term Relationships: PID can occur in
monogamous relationships, and both partners should be treated simultaneously to
prevent recurrence.
●
Sexual Activity: Avoid sex until both
you and your partner have completed treatment.
●
Previous Partners: If no partner in the
last 6 months, your most recent partner should be tested and treated.
How
to avoid it?
To help prevent PID, take these steps to
avoid STIs:
- Use Condoms: Always use condoms during sex, even if you use
other birth control methods.
- Monogamous Relationships: Have sex only with a partner who does not have an
STI and who is monogamous with you.
- Limit Partners: Limit your number of sexual partners. Having
multiple partners increases the risk of contracting an STI, especially if
either you or your partner has had previous partners.
