What is pelvic inflammatory disease?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It most often occurs when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from your vagina to your uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries.
The signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease can be subtle or mild. Some women don't experience any signs or symptoms. As a result, you might not realize you have it until you have trouble getting pregnant or you develop chronic pelvic pain.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms most often include:
- Pain in your lower abdomen and pelvis
- Abnormal or heavy vaginal discharge that may have an unpleasant odor
- Abnormal uterine bleeding, especially during or after intercourse, or between menstrual cycles
- Pain during intercourse
- Fever, sometimes with chills
- Painful, frequent or difficult urination
Causes
Many types of bacteria can cause PID, but gonorrhea or chlamydia infections are the most common.
These bacteria are usually acquired during unprotected sex.
Less commonly, bacteria can enter your reproductive tract anytime the normal barrier created by the cervix is disturbed. This can happen during menstruation and after childbirth, miscarriage or abortion.
Rarely, bacteria can also enter the reproductive tract during the insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) — a form of long-term birth control — or any medical procedure that involves inserting instruments into the uterus.
Risk factors include:
- Being a sexually active woman younger than 25 years old
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Having sex without a condom
- Douching regularly
- Having a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or a sexually transmitted infection
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