Pelvic inflammatory disease is a general term for infection of the uterus lining, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
See also: Endometritis
Alternative NamesPID; Oophoritis; Salpingitis; Salpingo-oophoritis; Salpingo-peritonitis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsMost cases of pelvic inflammatory disease are caused by bacteria that move from the vagina or cervix into the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, or pelvis.
The most common cause of PID is sexual contact without using a condom or other protection. This is called a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two bacteria that cause most cases of PID.
However, bacteria may also enter the body during some surgical or office procedures, such as:
In the United States, nearly 1 million women develop PID each year. About 1 in 8 sexually active adolescent girls will develop PID before age 20.
Risk factors include:
The most common symptoms of PID include:
Other symptoms that may occur with PID:
Note: There may be no symptoms. People who experience an ectopic pregnancyor infertilityoften have had silent PID, which is usually caused by chlamydia infection.
Signs and testsYou may have a fever and abdominal tenderness. A pelvic examination may show:
Lab tests that look for signs of infection are:
Other tests include:
Your doctor will often start you on antibiotics while waiting for your test results.
If you are diagnosed with milder PID, you will usually be given an antibiotic injection or shot, and then sent home with antibiotic pills to take for up to 2 weeks. You will need to closely follow up with your health care provider.
More severe cases of PID may require you to stay in the hospital. Antibiotics are first given by IV, and then later by mouth. Which antibiotic is used depends on the type of infection.
A number of different antibiotics may be used for treating this type of infection. Some are safe in pregnant women. See gonorrhea or chlamydia for specific treatment recommendations.
Sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth. You and your partner must finish all of the antibiotics. Use condoms until you both have finished taking your antibiotics.
Complicated cases that do not improve with antibiotics may need surgery.
ComplicationsPID infections can cause scarring of the pelvic organs, possibly leading to:
Call your health care provider if:
Preventive measures include:
You can reduce the risk of PID by getting regular STD screening exams. Couples can be tested for STDs before starting to have sex. Testing can detect STDs that may not be producing symptoms yet.
All sexually active women ages 20 - 25 and younger should be screened each year for chlamydia and gonorrhea. All women with new sexual partners or multiple partners should also be screened.
ReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Update to sexually transmitted diseases guidelines, 2006: fluoroquinolones no longer recommended for treatment of gonococcal infections. MMWR. 2007;56:332-336.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for gonorrhea: recommendation statement. Am Fam Physician. 2005;72:1783-1786.
Meyers D, Wolff T, Gregory K, et al. USPSTF recommendations for STI screening. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77:819-824.
Pelvic inflammatory disease is a general term for infection of the uterus lining, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
See also: Endometritis
Alternative NamesPID; Oophoritis; Salpingitis; Salpingo-oophoritis; Salpingo-peritonitis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsPelvic inflammatory disease (PID) occurs when bacteria move from the vagina or cervix into the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, or pelvis.
Most cases of PID are due to the bacteria that cause chlamydia and gonorrhea. These are sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The most common way a woman develops PID is by having unprotected sex with someone who has a sexually transmitted infection.
However, bacteria may also enter the body during some surgical or office procedures, such as:
In the United States, nearly 1 million women develop PID each year. About 1 in 8 sexually active adolescent girls will develop PID before age 20.
You are more likely to develop PID if you have:
The most common symptoms of PID include:
Other symptoms that may occur with PID:
Note: There may be no symptoms. People who experience an ectopic pregnancyor infertilityoften have had silent PID, which is usually caused by chlamydia infection.
Signs and testsYou may have a fever and abdominal tenderness. A pelvic examination may show:
Lab tests that look for signs of infection are:
Other tests include:
Your doctor will often start you on antibiotics while waiting for your test results.
If you are diagnosed with milder PID, you will usually be given an antibiotic injection or shot, and then sent home with antibiotic pills to take for up to 2 weeks. You will need to closely follow up with your health care provider.
More severe cases of PID may require you to stay in the hospital. Antibiotics are first given by IV, and then later by mouth. Which antibiotic is used depends on the type of infection.
A number of different antibiotics may be used for treating this type of infection. Some are safe in pregnant women. See gonorrhea or chlamydia for specific treatment recommendations.
Sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth. You and your partner must finish all of the antibiotics. Use condoms until you both have finished taking your antibiotics.
Complicated cases that do not improve with antibiotics may need surgery.
ComplicationsPID infections can cause scarring of the pelvic organs, possibly leading to:
Call your health care provider if:
Preventive measures include:
You can reduce the risk of PID by getting regular STI screening exams. Couples can be tested before starting to have sex. Testing can detect infections that are not yet causing symptoms.
All sexually active women ages 20 - 25 and younger should be screened each year for chlamydia and gonorrhea. All women with new sexual partners or multiple partners should also be screened.
ReferencesBirnbaumer DM, Anderegg C. Sexually transmitted diseases. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 96.
Workowski KA, Berman S; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2010. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2010;59(RR-12):1-110.
Meyers D, Wolff T, Gregory K, et al. USPSTF recommendations for STI screening. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77:819-824.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 09/12/2011
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Bellevue, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
PID stands for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory diseasePelvic inflammatory diseasePelvic Inflammatory Disease aka PID
No, you have it backwards. Pelvic inflammatory disease is a risk factor for ectopic pregnancy, and prior PID is a risk factor for current PID.
PID can recur, or can become chronic.
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease is abbreviated PID.
If you are referring to pelvic inflammatory disease, it can be caused by bacteria, virus, or fungus.
Pelvic inflammatory disease does not cause cancer. Having multiple sex partners is a risk for both cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease, but even those who aren't sexually active can get PID.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) refers to infection of the uterus (womb). The symptoms include a foul vaginal odor, vaginal discharge, infertility, and irregular menstrual cycles.
PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) and if eventually blood poisoning and death.
Salpingitis, also known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).