Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Explained
Posted on: 6 January 2021
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is caused by bacteria spreading into your reproductive organs. The bacteria are transmitted during sex and are the same strains associated with certain sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia. Having PID can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy and cause infertility, so early treatment is key for women who may want to have children at any point in their future. Here's an overview of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment approach for PID.
Symptoms
In the period shortly after transmission you may not experience symptoms, but as bacteria spread further into your reproductive organs and colonisation occurs, you will experience pain during sex, which may be accompanied by bleeding, and pelvic pain. It's also common to have difficulty passing urine and to develop vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odour. As PID causes inflammation in your reproductive system, some women develop scar tissue along the fallopian tubes, which can lead to changes in menstruation and block eggs from reaching the cervix. Abscesses can also develop in the reproductive organs, and an infected abscess can be extremely painful and cause life-threatening sepsis if it ruptures.
Diagnosis And Treatment Approach
Your doctor will make their diagnosis by taking details of your symptoms and carrying out a physical exam, which may include palpating your pelvic region. They will use a soft swab to take vaginal and cervical cell samples, which will be analysed for the presence of bacteria. Blood samples will also be collected to check for signs of infection, such as raised inflammatory markers and an increase in white blood cells. If there's any indication that there could be a blockage in your reproductive system, such as being unable to conceive, your doctor will refer you for a laparoscopy. This involves using a thin tube with a tiny camera to look at your reproductive organs. The tube is inserted through a small incision in your lower abdomen, and the procedure is carried out as a day case.
Damage to your reproductive system can't usually be reversed, but PID can be treated with a long course of antibiotics, which will prevent any further damage from occurring. The antibiotics eradicate the bacteria, but when the infection is severe, you may need to try a few different types of antibiotic to completely resolve PID. If a laparoscopy showed you have scar tissue or abscesses on your reproductive organs, you will require surgery to remove them, which can help resolve infertility and reduce the risk of complications in early pregnancy.
If you're experiencing any of the symptoms noted above, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to reduce the impact of PID on your reproductive health.
Talk to a doctor for more information.
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