Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Diagnosis

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Infection of the female reproductive organs is called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID. US Department of Health and Human Services reported that 5% of US women suffer from this condition. Early Pelvic Inflammatory Disease treatment is absolutely necessary, because if ignored it can become life-threatening.

Causes

Generally, a PID infection starts in the vagina. Then begins to spread into the cervix, fallopian tube and into the ovaries. This infection can be parasitic, fungal, or bacterial. Sexual activity and the transfer of bacteria during intercourse is the usual method of infection that leads to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).

Symptoms

Some women suffer PID without any symptoms and each person is different. For those with symptoms, they can vary from mild to severe. Some commonly observed symptoms are:

  • Severe pain in the pelvic region
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Irregular menstrual periods
  • Rectum and lower back pain
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Frequent urination
  • Unusual vaginal discharge
  • Urinary Tract Infection
  • Vomiting

Risk Factors

Sexually active women under 25 are more at risk and women with multiple sexual partners are more likely to suffer from this disease. Abortions or miscarriages can also put you at greater risk if your cervix is not fully closed.

Diagnosis

Generally a pelvic examination will be ordered to check for tenderness in the region, especially if you have no symptoms.  Sexually transmitted diseases like Gonorrhea and Chlamydia should also be tested as they can be part of the problem.  Standard blood and urine tests are also helpful in diagnosing this problem.

Should those results be unclear, or further examination necessary, an ultrasound and/or laproscopic surgery could be recommended for an even more detailed examination of your possible pelvic inflammatory problem.

Treatment

Early detection of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease can definitely help reduce the chance of further complications.  Generally your gynecologist may prescribe some antibiotics as a Pelvic Inflammatory Disease treatment to reduce a bacterial infection.  If there are no improvements after approximately three (3) days, you should have another conversation with your gynecologist.

If you are pregnant and are having mild to severe symptoms, your doctor may also suggest hospitalization to ensure the safety of you and your baby.

In either case, sexual contact should be avoided during this infection.

Conclusion

Proper diagnosis with early treatment is the only way to ensure your safety.  You should have regular check-ups and gynecology visits. Clinica Hispana La Paz is a reliable gynecology clinic in Nashville, that can help you with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and other ailments. Visit https://clinicahispanalapaz.net to learn more or give us a call.