PID
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is caused by an infection developing in thefemale upper genital tract.
In most cases, the condition is caused bya bacterial infection spreading from the vagina orcervix (entrance to the womb) into the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
PID is often caused by more than one type of bacterium and it can sometimes be difficult for doctors to pinpoint which are responsible. Therefore, a combination of antibioticswill be prescribed, so a variety of bacteria can be treated.
In about one in four cases, PID is caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea .
These bacteria usually only infect the cervix, where they can be easily treated with a single dose of an antibiotic.However, if they're not treated there's a risk the bacteria could travel into the upper genital tract.
It's estimated that 1 in 10 women with untreated chlamydia may develop PID within a year.
In many cases, the cause of the infection that leads to PID is unknown.
Sometimes, normally harmless bacteria found in the vagina can get past the cervix and into the reproductive organs. Although harmless in the vagina, these types of bacteria can cause infection in other parts of the body.
Thisis most likely to happen if:
If an infection spreads upwards from the vagina andcervix, it can cause inflammation of the:
Pockets of infected fluid, called abscesses , can also develop in the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female upper genital tract, including the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is caused by an infection developing in the female upper genital tract.
There's no single test for diagnosing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) it is diagnosed based on your symptoms and a gynaecological examination.
If it's diagnosed at an early stage, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can be treated easily and effectively with antibiotics. These can be prescribed by your GP or a doctor in a sexual health clinic.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can sometimes lead to serious and long-term problems, particularly if the condition isn't treated with antibiotics quickly.