Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Overview
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. It most commonly develops when bacteria spread upwards from the vagina or cervix into the upper reproductive tract.
Some women experience sudden and severe symptoms, while others have mild symptoms that may be overlooked. Without timely treatment, PID can lead to chronic pelvic pain, scarring of the fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy, and fertility difficulties.
The goal is to identify and treat the infection early, relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and protect long-term reproductive health.
Symptoms
Symptoms of PID can range from mild to severe. You may experience:
- Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Painful urination
- Fever or chills
- Irregular vaginal bleeding
- Heavier menstrual periods
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain during pelvic examinations
Some women may have very subtle symptoms or no noticeable symptoms despite ongoing infection.
Causes & Risk Factors
PID usually occurs when bacteria enter and spread through the reproductive tract. You may be at higher risk if you:
- Have a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- Have multiple sexual partners
- Have a previous history of PID
- Have a history of untreated reproductive tract infections
- Are under 25 years of age and sexually active
- Have recently undergone certain gynaecological procedures
These factors may increase the likelihood of developing reproductive tract infections.
When to Seek Care
You should seek medical advice if you:
- Experience persistent pelvic pain
- Develop unusual vaginal discharge
- Have pain during intercourse
- Develop fever with pelvic symptoms
- Experience irregular bleeding
- Have concerns about reproductive health or fertility
Emergency Symptoms
Seek immediate medical care if you experience:
- Severe pelvic or abdominal pain
- High fever with chills
- Persistent vomiting
- Fainting or collapse
- Severe weakness or dehydration
- Rapid worsening of symptoms
Prevention
You can help reduce the risk of PID by:
- Practising safer sexual behaviours
- Seeking early treatment for sexually transmitted infections
- Attending routine reproductive health reviews
- Completing prescribed treatment courses fully
- Encouraging sexual partners to seek assessment and treatment when advised
- Seeking medical advice promptly when symptoms develop
Support Services
Managing PID involves both treatment of infection and support for recovery and reproductive wellbeing. You may benefit from:
- Medication and treatment monitoring
- Counselling and emotional wellbeing support
- Fertility counselling where appropriate
- Follow-up care and monitoring
- Sexual health education
- Referral coordination where needed
This multidisciplinary approach helps support recovery, reduce complications, and protect future reproductive health.