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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) .
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID is caused when an infection enters the cervix (womb opening) and infects the woman’s internal reproductive organs (eg. womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries) and the tissues surrounding them which all lie within the pelvis. The infection can be sexually transmitted as a result of Chlamydia (the commonest) or Gonorrhoea moving through the cervix up into the womb . It can be caused by other non-sexually transmitted bacteria.
If you have had unprotected sex it is important to have a full sexual health check up to make sure you don’t have any infections. PID happens most often because infections are left without treatment.
How is it passed on?
PID is usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection that is left untreated and so moves further into the pelvis.
In some cases the infection moves to the pelvis when someone has a coil (IUD) inserted, or when the cervix is open during childbirth, a miscarriage or an abortion.
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of PID vary in different women. It can be very sudden and severe, or develop slowly and be less obvious. Sometimes it gives no symptoms at all.
The most common symptoms are:
- Lower Abdominal (tummy/stomach) Pain.
- Pain during sex
- Bleeding after sex
- Bleeding between periods
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Generally feeling unwell.
It is also possible to have a high temperature, nausea (sickness) and lower back pain.
The Doctor will be able to tell if you have PID by asking you some questions and examining your pelvic area for pain and swelling.
What happens if I’m told I have PID?
The infections that cause PID can easily be treated with a course of antibiotics (free at Whittall Street Clinic). It may also be recommended that you take regular painkillers. You will be advised to avoid sex until the pain has gone and your sexual partner/s has also received treatment. We really would advise you to tell your partner so that they can be treated. This helps reduce the risk of you being re-infected.
If PID is not found and treated it can cause scarring along the fallopian tubes (the tube which an egg passes along to get to the womb). This can make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant, and increase the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy (where the foetus begins to grow in the fallopian tube or outside of the womb) which can be a very serious condition. It can also cause chronic lower abdominal pins.
You can help protect yourself from PID by using condoms every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex. If you are unsure of how to use condoms, please ask to see a health adviser who will be happy to talk to you about safely using condoms.
