The infection of the female reproductive organs is known as a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It usually happens when bacteria from your vaginal area spread to your uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. Pelvic inflammatory disease can have subtle or mild signs and symptoms. Some women have no signs or symptoms at all. As a result, you may not be aware that you have it until you have difficulty getting pregnant or experience chronic pelvic pain.
Pelvic inflammatory illness can have subtle indications and symptoms that are difficult to detect. Some women show no signs or symptoms at all. The following are the most common indications and symptoms of PID:
- Pain in your lower abdomen and pelvis, which can range from minor to severe.
- Vaginal discharge that is unusually heavy or has an unpleasant odor
- Uterine bleeding that is abnormal, particularly during or after intercourse or between menstrual cycles
- During intercourse, there is pain.
- Fever, occasionally accompanied by chills
- Urination that is painful, frequent, or difficult
PID can be caused by a variety of bacteria, however, the most frequent are gonorrhea and chlamydia infections. Typically, these microorganisms are obtained through unprotected sex.
Bacteria can enter your reproductive tract when the usual barrier produced by the cervix is disrupted, which happens less frequently. This can occur during or after menstruation, childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. Bacteria can also enter the reproductive system through the implantation of an intrauterine device (IUD), a type of long-term birth control, or any medical procedure that involves introducing instruments into the uterus on a rare occasion.
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Pelvic inflammatory disease can be caused by a variety of reasons, including:
- Being a sexually active young woman under the age of 25
- Having more than one sexual partner
- Being in a sexual relationship with a person who has more than one sex partner
- Having a sexual encounter without using a condom
- Douching frequently might throw off the balance of healthy vs bad bacteria in the vaginal area, masking symptoms.
- Having a sexually transmitted illness or a history of pelvic inflammatory disease
- After the placement of an intrauterine device, there is a modest increase in the risk of PID (IUD). This danger is usually only present for the first three weeks following installation.
There is no single test that can identify the pelvic inflammatory disease with certainty. Instead, your doctor will rely on a combination of results from the following sources:
- Your medical background. Your doctor would most likely inquire about your sexual activities, sexually transmitted infection history, and birth control method.
- Symptoms and signs Any symptoms you're having, no matter how little, should be reported to your doctor.
- An examination of the pelvis. During the exam, your doctor will look for pain and edema in your pelvic region. Cotton swabs may also be used by your doctor to collect fluid samples from your vaginal and cervix. The samples will be examined in a laboratory for symptoms of illness as well as organisms like gonorrhea and chlamydia.
- Tests of the blood and urine. These tests can detect pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as to measure white blood cell counts and other infection or inflammation markers.
- Ultrasound. Sound waves are used to make images of your reproductive organs in this exam.
If your doctor is still unsure about the diagnosis, he or she may suggest more testing, such as:
- Laparoscopy. Your doctor will introduce a thin, illuminated tool via a small incision in your abdomen to observe your pelvic organs during this operation.
- Biopsy of the endometrium. Your doctor will put a tiny tube into your uterus to remove a small sample of endometrial tissue during this operation. Signs of infection and inflammation are looked for in the tissue.
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The infection that causes the pelvic inflammatory disease can be cured with prompt medical therapy. However, any scarring or damage to the reproductive tract produced by PID cannot be reversed. The following are the most common treatments for PID:
- Antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics that you should begin taking right away. Your doctor may change your medication based on the findings of your lab tests to better match the infection's cause. After three days, you'll probably see your doctor make sure the medication is working. Even if you start to feign illness, make sure you take all of your medications.
- Your partner's treatment. Your sexual partner or partners should be evaluated and treated to prevent reinfection with an STI. Infected partners may not show any signs at all.
- Abstinence for a limited time. Avoid sexual activity until your treatment is finished and your symptoms have gone away.
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