Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a bacterial infection. It affects the female reproductive system including the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Symptoms of PID

PID often does not cause any obvious symptoms.

Most symptoms are mild, making it difficult to diagnose.

Symptoms include:

• pain around the pelvis or lower tummy
• discomfort or pain during sex that is felt deep inside the pelvis
• pain when peeing
• bleeding between periods or after sex
• heavy periods
• painful periods
• unusual vaginal discharge

Less common symptoms include:

• severe tummy pain
• a high temperature (fever)
• feeling and being sick

When to get medical advice

Speak to your GP practice or local sexual health clinic if:

• you have symptoms of PID
• you’re worried about your symptoms

Testing for PID

If you think you might have PID, get checked for free by:

• booking an appointment at your local sexual health service
• contacting your GP practice for an appointment

What does a PID test involve?

There is no single test for diagnosing PID.

Your doctor or nurse will discuss your symptoms before you have an internal examination. This shouldn’t be painful, but you may experience some discomfort.

When your doctor examines you, they’ll look for tenderness in your pelvic region and an abnormal vaginal discharge.

The doctor will usually take swabs from inside your vagina and cervix. These will be sent to a lab for analysis. However, a swab test can’t be relied on to diagnose PID, as some women with PID have a negative swab result.

You may have an ultrasound scan. Scans can identify severe PID but will not show up mild disease. It’s possible to have a normal scan and still have PID.

Treatment for PID

If it’s diagnosed at an early stage, oral antibiotics will treat PID. You’ll probably be given these to take for at least 2 weeks.

In more severe cases, you may be admitted to hospital for observation and treatment with antibiotic injections.

Always see your doctor or nurse if you think you might have PID, as the sooner you are treated, the better. If you’re given treatment, always make sure that you take all of your antibiotics and finish the entire course.

Your partner(s) should also be treated and you should avoid sex until your treatment is completed.

How PID is passed on

Most cases of PID are caused by a bacterial infection that’s spread from the vagina or the cervix to the reproductive organs higher up.

Many different types of bacteria can cause PID. However, most cases are the result of a chlamydia or gonorrhoea infection.

In some cases, the cause of the infection that leads to PID is unknown. Such cases may be the result of normally harmless bacteria found in the vagina. These bacteria can sometimes get past the cervix and into the reproductive organs.

Complications of PID

If left untreated, PID can cause serious conditions including:

• pelvic abscesses
• long-term pelvic pain, or pelvic pain that keeps coming back
• reduced fertility or infertility
• ectopic pregnancy

How to prevent PID

The best way to reduce your risk of STIs is to practice safer sex. This means using a condom for vaginal, anal and oral sex.

STIs

If you have been diagnosed with PID you should get tested for all STIs including:

• chlamydia
• gonorrhoea
• syphilis