Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Women with PID do not always have symptoms. However, if symptoms do occur, they may include:

• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Vaginal discharge with a foul odor
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Painful intercourse
• Painful urination
• Irregular menstrual bleeding

If you suspect PID, or have any symptoms, see your doctor immediately.

Diagnosis

Because symptoms are often subtle or nonexistent, PID can be difficult to diagnose. There are no specific tests for PID.

If PID is suspected, the doctor will ask about your symptoms, as well as your sexual history, partners, and birth control methods. The doctor may perform a general physical exam, as well as a pelvic exam. The pelvic exam is key to making the diagnosis. Samples from the vagina or cervix may be taken to help diagnose the problem.

Tests may include:

• Cultures of the cervix—to test for STD organisms
• Blood test—to check pregnancy status and to check for infection
• Ultrasound —a test that uses sound waves to visualize the inside of the body
• Laparoscopy —insertion of a thin, lighted telescopic tube through a small incision in the abdomen to look at the reproductive organs