Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – What is it & How Can it be Treated?

“The signs & symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease can be subtle or mild. Some women don’t experience any signs or symptoms. As a result, you might not realize you have it until you have trouble getting pregnant, or you develop chronic pelvic pain” [1]. – This means that if you have any symptoms, or suspect that PID could have been passed on to you, then you should visit a Pain Specialist, who can give you a definite diagnosis and immediate treatment – both of which are crucial to your future well-being…

A Definition

PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) refers to an infection concerning the female reproductive organs. In the majority of instances, it comes about from bacteria that has been sexually transmitted to your vagina. – This then spreads to your overies, fallopian tubes or uterus [1].

So What Are the Symptoms I Should Look Out For?

“Many types of bacteria can cause PID, but gonorrhea or chlamydia infections are the most common. These bacteria are usually acquired during unprotected sex.
Less commonly, bacteria can enter your reproductive tract anytime the normal barrier created by the cervix is disturbed” [1]

Unfortunately, this task is not so easy, as the symptoms and signs of PID could be mild, and not easy to recognise. Moreover, a percentage of sufferers don’t even have any tell tale signs. However, here is a list of the main things that you need to watch out for:

•Pain in your pelvis and lower abdomen. – This could range anywhere between severe and mild
•Pain whilst you are having sexual intercourse
•A heavy or abnormal discharge from your vagina (with or without an unpleasant odor).
•Irregular uterine bleeding, particularly if it is between menstrual cycles; or after, or during’ sexual intercourse
•Fever. – This could also be acompanied by feeling chilly
•Difficult, frequent, or painful urination [1].

Help is at Hand – Treatment

“Prompt treatment with medicine can get rid of the infection that causes pelvic inflammatory disease. But there’s no way to reverse any scarring or damage to the reproductive tract that PID might have caused” [1]

•Antibiotics is the usual treatment. Your Pain Specialist will order a lab test for you (and if appropriate, your sexual partner), and once the results are received, they may change the prescription to align with the root cause of the infection
•Surgery is not often used for PID sufferers, however, it may be helpful in some cases

Reference

[1]. Mayo Clinic (2020). “Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).”