It is a serious and common complication of certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea and chlamydia. PID can easily damage the ovaries, the tissues in and near the uterus and the fallopian tubes. Untreated PID can cause serious consequences including ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the fallopian tube or elsewhere outside of the womb), infertility, chronic pelvic pain and abscess formation.
Symptoms of PID
Tenderness or dull pain in the lower abdomen, abnormal vaginal discharge, abnormal periods, fever and chills, nausea and/or vomiting.
How do women acquire PID?
A women gets PID when bacteria travel forward from her cervix (opening that leads to the uterus) or vagina into her reproductive organs. Different organisms can cause PID, but most of the cases are associated with chlamydia and gonorrhea, 2 common bacterial STDs. Sexually active women especially in their child-bearing age are at high risk and those under 25 years of age can develop a PID.
How can you prevent PID?
STD (mainly untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia) is a preventable cause of PID. Women should protect themselves from PID by taking serious precautions against STDs or taking early treatment if infected.
- One way to prevent transmission of STD is abstinence from sexual intercourse or being in a mutually monogamous relationship. Your partner should be uninfected and tested negative for STDs.
- 2.Latex male condoms, if used correctly and consistently can lower the risk of transmission of gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Treatment of PID
- PID can be treated with many types of antibiotics. With the help of a health care provider, you will be prescribed the best therapy. But, keep in mind that antibiotic treatment cannot reverse any damage that has occurred in the reproductive organs.
- A woman presenting with pelvic pain and other symptoms of PID should be promptly treated. Good antibiotic treatment can prevent severe damage to the reproductive organs.
- If the treatment for PID is delayed, the woman is likely to become infertile or have a future ectopic pregnancy.
What to do if you think you have PID?
- If you think you have the symptoms mentioned, hurry to the nearest clinic! One of the main causative factor for getting PID is any case of untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea. Get yourself treated for STDs.
- There are many health departments in Australia with special clinics that treat STDs including chlamydia and gonorrhoea. In case you don't know where to go, call your local family planning clinic for more information. No matter where you receive treatment, your case will be kept absolutely private.
- It's normal to feel embarrassed about having chlamydia/gonorrhoea infection and it may be difficult to go to the doctor or the clinic. But it is necessary to get yourself treated even though it is the hardest thing to do. There is no other way to recover.
- Don't forget to tell your sexual partner. If they are not treated, they can also spread chlamydia! And they might infect you all over again.