Pelvic inflammatory disease - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Pelvic inflammatory disease

Plevic inflammatory disease is an infection of the womb, and/or fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries that may spread through the tubes, into the 'space' in the pelvis around the womb, bladder and large bowel. The infection causes inflammation. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is the most frequent severe gynae infection and is more common in young women, those with a new partner, and those who don't use condoms. Having a coil fitted while you have a chlamydia or other sexually transmitted infection can also encourage PID. Occasionally infection of the womb (endometritis) and the fallopian tubes (salpingitis) happens alone, but if the womb is infected, the tubes are likely to be infected too, and vice versa.

The first attack is usually the worst, with pelvic pain (that may be severe), fever, and flu-like symptoms - such as shivering, headache and aching muscles.

Your cervix may be tender during sex (especially with deep penetration) and medical examinations, and you may feel pain in your thighs, bottom and lower back that's worse before a period. Your period may be unusually heavy. There may be a slight but smelly vaginal discharge (or, if your PID results from gonorrhoea, a yellow or bloody discharge). You may also have cystitis, and pain in your back passage. The pain can mimic that of endometriosis.

Also, the symptoms of salpingitis in the right fallopian tube mimic those of appendicitis, and symptoms from infection in either tube can be difficult to distinguish from an ectopic pregnancy (one occurring in a tube). If you feel nauseous, or vomit, you may have peritonitis (inflammation of the membranes around your abdominal organs).

Tests and investigations for Plevic inflammatory disease

Your doctor will take swabs from high in your vagina and send them to a laboratory to check the nature of the infecting organisms so as to determine the antibiotics most likely to work.

Need to see a doctor

Yes, because you need a diagnosis and antibiotics are, vital to prevent infertility and I repeated attacks. If your symptoms are severe you may need to stay in hospital.