What Is PID and Why Do I Have It?

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What Is PID and Why Do I Have It?

PID -- pelvic inflammatory disease -- is basically an infection in the pelvic region and upper genital tract caused by any of a group of infectious agents or microorganisms. In many cases, PID is caused by untreated sexually transmitted diseases, making young women and those who have multiple sex partners the most vulnerable.

Sexually transmitted diseases initially cause infection in the cervix and vagina and, when not promptly treated, the microorganisms can spread to infect the uterus and fallopian tubes, as well. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are often the culprits, but in many cases there is more than one organism to blame for PID.

The symptoms include lower abdominal pain -- sometimes severe -- fever and general malaise. There is no single test for PID, so a number of factors in addition to a physical exam are taken into account in making the diagnosis. One of the most important of these is to consider the patient's sexual history and risk factors. There are many other conditions which share the same symptoms, so the doctor must rule out appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, an ovarian cyst or any other condition which might require immediate surgery or emergency treatment. When these other, serious disorders cannot be ruled out., a laparoscopy may be recommended to allow a visual inspection of the upper genital area. This is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that involves inserting a scope into the abdomen through tiny incisions.

Many cases of PID go undiagnosed and untreated because the symptoms are never particularly serious and are easily ignored. Consequently, it is one of the leading causes of infertility for women in their childbearing years.. Most cases can be treated with a broad spectrum antibiotic and a follow up visit. For the best results, however, the patient's partner should be treated with antibiotics, as well.