How to Manage Inflammatory Pelvic Disease

According to the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, more than one million women suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease each year in the United States. It's a severe condition that causes about one in eight women to experience infertility.

Inflammatory pelvic disease is entirely avoidable, but if you end up developing the condition, early treatment is a priority. Being aware of the symptoms may prevent long-term complications by seeking care quickly.

At The Women's Center at Life Point Medical, our team specializes in STDs, women's health, and conditions like PID. Monique Petteys, FNP-C, is our wellness specialist who provides STD testing and customized treatments to manage PID and prevent infertility if possible.

What is inflammatory pelvic disease?

Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is a type of infection that happens to the reproductive organs in a woman. The infection can affect the uterus, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, or cervix and leads to various symptoms, including:

• Chills
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal tenderness
• Painful sex
• Burning with urination
• Foul-smelling vaginal discharge

Various types of bacteria cause PID, primarily bacteria in STDs that live around or in the vagina. You may be at risk for PID if you have an STD, are under the age of 25, or if you have multiple sex partners.

Other risk factors for PID are douching, which can deliver bacteria into the cervix and uterus, and getting an IUD recently.

Can I manage PID alone?

Because PID is an infection that spreads from the genitals into the reproductive organs and abdomen, you can't treat it alone. Avoiding treatment often causes more harm than good.

As soon as you notice symptoms of an STD or find out that your partner has an STD, it's essential to seek treatment right away to prevent PID from developing.

When the STD progresses without treatment, it spreads into other areas, causing the symptoms of PID. If you notice any symptoms, especially fever, vomiting, or abdominal tenderness, seek treatment immediately to avoid complications.

Treatments for PID

Pelvic inflammatory disease happens from an infection, so you need antibiotics to cure it. The type of antibiotic you need depends on the root cause of the illness and which STD started the problem.

Most women need about two weeks of an antibiotic to clear up the symptoms of PID. However, some women still have symptoms despite antibiotics. If you continue to have symptoms, call us immediately to determine the next steps in care.

It's essential to take all antibiotics, even if you begin to feel better. This ensures the infection completely disappears and no more bacteria are present in the body.

Some women require IV antibiotics, especially with a severe case of PID. You may also need IV antibiotics if you are currently pregnant or have an abscess with pus around the Fallopian tubes or ovaries.

PID prevention tips

An untreated STD often causes PID, but that isn’t always the case. Bacteria around the vagina can travel up into the body, also leading to PID. We offer the following prevention tips to keep your abdomen and reproductive organs healthy:

• Avoid douching
• Limit sexual partners
• Practice safe sex
• Use condoms
• Get regular check-ups

You know your body better than anyone, so you should be able to tell when something isn't right with it. Any sign of abdominal discomfort along with irregular bleeding, burning with urination, or vaginal discharge should signal you to seek treatment.

The best way to prevent PID is by protecting yourself during sex by using barrier methods of birth control to avoid STDs.

Call the Women's Center at Life Point Medical today for STD or PID treatment, or request a consultation using our online scheduling tool.