PID is an infection of the organs of a woman’s pelvis. The infection can start in your vagina, and travel through your cervix, into your uterus (womb) and to your fallopian tubes and ovaries. PID is caused by bacteria - usually the same bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia. Women with healthy immune systems can get it. However, in women with HIV, it’s more common, can be harder to treat, and takes longer to heal. PID can often develop over a long period of time and get worse before it’s properly d iagnosed.
Symptoms
Symptoms of itching, burning, soreness when your belly is touched, pain during intercourse (fucking), unusual vaginal discharge (stuff that comes out of your vagina), or changes in your menstrual period should be reported to your doctor. These may be symptoms of chlamydia or gonorrhea. If those infections are not treated, they can develop into PID. Severe belly pain accompanied by fever may be symptoms of PID. A woman with an extremely weak immune system may not show symptoms of PID.
Diagnosis
If you report symptoms that sound typical of PID, your doctor will examine you and take samples for testing. PID is diagnosed by using a cotton swab to take a small sample of fluid and cells from your cervix (the entrance of your uterus [womb]). The sample is then sent to the lab to be tested for bacteria. If belly pain is severe, your doctor may do a laparoscopy. A small incision (cut) is made in your belly button and an instrument called a laparoscope is inserted into your belly. This allows your internal organs to be examined, because PID can sometimes cause abscesses on your ovaries or uterus. Any found abscesses may be treated during the laparoscopy.
Prevention
Using condoms can help prevent transmission of some of the bacteria that cause PID. Women who use intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) to prevent pregnancy are at higher risk of developing PID.
Treatment
PID can usually be successfully treated with antibiotics. The antibiotics used often include one or two of the following: cefoxitin, cefotetan, doxycycline, clindamycin, gentamicin, probenecid, amoxicillin, clavulanate, ofloxacin, and metronidazole. If your pain is severe, your doctor may want to keep you in the hospital for the first days of treatment. If you have internal abscesses, you may need to have surgery to remove them.