Tubo-Ovarian Abscess

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Emergency Medicine,Genitourinary

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate
What is pelvic inflammatory disease? — Pelvic inflammatory disease, also called "PID," is an infection that affects a woman's reproductive system (figure 1). In a woman, the reproductive system includes:
The uterus (or womb), the organ that holds a baby when a woman is pregnant
The ovaries, the organs that release eggs
The fallopian tubes, which connect the ovaries to the uterus
The vagina, which connects the uterus to the outside of the body
PID is most commonly caused by an infection you catch during sex. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two of the most common infections that lead to PID. PID can cause ongoing (also called "chronic") pain. It can also leave you unable to have a baby, because PID can cause scars to form on the fallopian tubes.
What are the symptoms of PID? — The main symptom of PID is pain in the lower belly. In some women, this pain gets worse during sex.
Other symptoms can include:
Fluid leaking from the vagina (called "discharge")
Bleeding or spotting from the vagina
Pain during a pelvic exam
Is there a test for PID? — There is no simple test that can show whether or not you have PID. But there are a few tests that can help your doctor or nurse find the possible cause of your problem.
First, your doctor or nurse will do a pelvic exam to check for signs of infection or inflammation. Then, he or she might test your urine, blood, or vaginal discharge for signs of infection or other problems.
Depending on your situation, you might also have other tests, such as an ultrasound. An ultrasound is an imaging test that creates pictures of the inside of your body. It is painless.
Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes! If you think you might have PID, it is very important find out and to start treatment right away. The longer you wait to get treated, the more likely you are to develop long-term problems.
How is PID treated? — PID is treated with antibiotics. These antibiotics come in different forms, and not everyone takes them in the same way. Some people get a shot plus pills. Some people need to get the antibiotics in the hospital through a thin tube that goes into a vein, called an "IV," first and then take pills when they go home. Your doctor will decide which treatment is best for you.
It is very important to take all the pills in your prescription, even if you feel better before you finish them. If you don't take all the pills, the infection could come back.
If you have PID, your recent sex partners also need to see a doctor and get treatment. This includes anyone you had sex with in the 2 months before your symptoms started. If your sex partners are not treated, they can infect you again.
Can PID be prevented? — Since PID is most commonly caused by a germ that you get during sex, you can lower your risk of getting PID by:
Using a latex condom every time you have sex
Not having sex with a partner who has symptoms of an infection
Not having sex at all
What if I want to get pregnant? — If you have hadPID, you could have a hard time getting pregnant. That's because PID can cause scars to form on the fallopian tubes. If you do get pregnant, you will also have a higher-than-average chance of having an ectopic pregnancy, which can be dangerous. An ectopic pregnancy is when a baby starts to form in the fallopian tube, which then can burst.
If you are trying to get pregnant, be sure to tell your doctor or nurse that you have had PID.
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete.
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Mar 30, 2020.
Topic 17117 Version 5.0
Release: 28.2.2 - C28.105
© 2020 UpToDate, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Acute Parametritis and Pelvic Cellulitis,Adnexitis,Chlamydial Infections,Chronic Parametritis and Pelvic Cellulitis,Chronic Pelvic Pain,Endometritis,Female Acute Pelvic Peritonitis,Female Chronic Pelvic Peritonitis,Female Pelvic Inflammation,Female Pelvic Inflammatory Disease,Female Pelvic Peritonitis,Gonococcal Infections,Inflammatory Diseases of the Female Pelvic Organs and Tissues,Pelvic Peritonitis,PID,Pyosalpinx,Salpingitis,Salpingitis and Oophoritis,Salpingo-oophoritis,Sexually Transmitted Diseases,Sexually Transmitted Infections,Sexually-Transmitted Diseases,Sexually-Transmitted Infections,STDs,Tubo-ovarian Abscess,Upper Genital Tract Infections

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