Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is defined by Medicine.Net as an infection of a woman’s pelvic organs. Organs located in the pelvic area consist of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and cervix.
Symptoms
The danger comes when women do not know they have PID because of not having any symptoms. But when symptoms do appear, they may include the following:
Fever (100.4 F or higher)
Vaginal discharge that may smell foul
Painful sex
Painful urination
Irregular periods
Pain in the upper right abdomen
Basically, with this condition, bacteria travel up the vagina and infect organs located in this area. There can be many bacteria that cause an infection, even normal vaginal bacteria is noted to cause PID. But the most common germs that cause PID is sexually transmitted infections (STI) or sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
Although PID is very common – in the U.S., more than one million women develop pelvic inflammatory disease – there are ways to prevent this condition. Some preventive measures are:
Being monogamous
Using condoms consistently and correctly
Not douching
Getting tested for STDs or STIs
Educating yourself about symptoms of STIs
Abstinence
Can PID cause infertility?
Yes. PID can cause severe complications like infertility, ectopic pregnancies and chronic pelvic pain.
In regards to infertility, bacteria enter the fallopian tubes and cause inflammation, resulting in scar tissue of this organ. Scar tissue blocks your tubes, and subsequently makes it difficult or impossible for a pregnancy to take place.
So what can be done? PID can be cured with antibiotics. Due to the possible irreversible damage that PID can cause, it is best to take all of the antibiotics prescribed, even if symptoms subside before you’ve used them all. It cannot be emphasized enough to see your doctor as soon as possible after the first symptoms appear. Persons who delay in obtaining medical treatment risk severe and permanent damage to the pelvic organs.
Resource: Medicine.Net
Dita Faulkner is a freelance writer who is active in community service, rendering aid to those in need spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.