Live Life Team
Infection and inflammation of the upper female genital tract including the fallopian tube, womb and ovaries is called Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).PID may affect any part or all the parts. An infection in the vagina or cervix causes PID. Pelvic inflammatory disease can be due to a bacterial infection but in most of the cases the major cause is a sexually transmitted infection (STI).Women those who have PID may develop a further infection. Generally 20% of women suffering from PID have further episodes within 2 years. This condition commonly develops in women in the age group of 15 to 24 and those who are sexually active. Many women with PID have very few or no symptoms at all.
Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease
Some possible symptoms of PID are as follows:
– fever and vomiting
– thick or unusual vaginal discharge
– pain in the rectum
– bleeding between periods
– ache or pain in the lower abdomen
– discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse
Causes of pelvic inflammatory disease
An infection usually causes pelvic inflammatory disease. An infection developed in the vagina generally spreads to the ovaries and fallopian tube. More than one type of bacteria may cause PID so it is difficult to pinpoint the bacteria that is responsible for the infection.
– Chlamydia and gonorrhoea: The bacteria found in chlamydia and gonorrhoea is most common cause for PID.50 to 65% cases of PID are due to chlamydia trachomatis, the bacteria that causes Chlamydia. The bacteria neisseria gonorrhoeae that causes gonorrhoeae is responsible for about 14% cases of PID.Around 8% of the women are affected by both chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
Other causes
Bacteria introduced into upper genital tract or the vagina due to endometrial biopsy, during childbirth or an abortion or miscarriage may cause PID. Appendicitis or the fitting of an IUD may result in development of PID.Sometimes the cause of infection is not known. Some bacteria that are harmless to the vagina may cause infection in other parts of the body.
Treating pelvic inflammatory disease
PID should be treated immediately and effectively. If left untreated it may cause more serious, long term complications.
Antibiotics: PID involves different types of bacteria and so a combination of antibiotics is prescribed for the treatment of PID.To minimise the risk of infertility, PID should be treated as early as possible. If the particular bacterium is detected that causes PID, then the antibiotics prescribed might be changed. Ofloxacin, doxycycline and metronidazole are some of the commonly prescribed antibiotics used for the treatment of PID.The antibiotics are normally prescribed for a period of 14 days. The treatment is not effective if the course of antibiotic is not completed. In serious cases antibiotic is given intravenously.
Surgery
The bacteria that cause PID may damage the fallopian tubes and other reproductive organs. Surgery may be used to repair the blocked and damaged tubes. The result of surgery can be mixed and may result in further scarring. To stop the spread of infection salpingectomy might be done. In this surgery one or both of the fallopian tubes are removed. After this surgery a woman will not be able to conceive naturally.
