PID-Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Eve Woman’s Medical offers testing and treatment for PID. Each year in the United States, it is estimated that more than 1 million women experience an episode of acute PID. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of a woman's pelvic organs. The pelvic organs include the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (tubes), ovaries, and other organs related to having babies.

PID occurs when Bacteria (a type of germ) moves up from a woman's vagina, infecting her tubes, ovaries, and womb. Many different types of germs can cause PID. But, germs found in two common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)—gonorrhea and Chlamydia—are most often the cause of PID. After a person is infected, it can take from a few days to a few months to turn into PID. PID can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the fallopian tube or elsewhere outside of the womb), abscess formation, and chronic pelvic pain.

The more sex partners a woman has, the greater her risk of developing PID, Also a woman whose partner has more than one sex partner is at greater risk of developing PID, because of the potential for more exposure to infectious agents. Women who douche may have a higher risk of developing PID compared with woman who does not douche. It has also been shown that douching can change the vaginal flora (organisms that live in the vagina) in harmful ways, and can force bacteria into the upper reproductive organs from the vagina. It is rare, but you can get PID without having an STD. No one is sure why, but normal bacteria found in the vagina and on the cervix can sometimes cause PID.

Many women have PID and don't know it. This is because sometimes women with PID don't have any symptoms. Still, some women do have symptoms, which can range from mild to severe. The most common symptom of PID is pain in your lower abdomen (stomach area). Other symptoms include:

• fever (99.6˚ or higher)
• vaginal discharge that may smell
• painful sex
• painful urination
• irregular periods
• pain in the upper right abdomen (stomach area)

PID can come on fast with extreme pain and fever, especially if it is caused by gonorrhea.

PID can be cured with several types of antibiotics. At Eve Women’s Medical Centers, we can determine and prescribe the best therapy. However, antibiotic treatment does not always reverse the damage that has already occurred to the reproductive organs. If a woman has pelvic pain and other symptoms of PID, it is critical that she seek care immediately. Prompt antibiotic treatment can prevent severe damage to reproductive organs.

Our reputation is earned one patient at a time, we are proud of what we do, how we do it, and our record of excellence. Eve has established University Standards for all of our procedures therefore all physicians are Board Certified Gynecologists. Our Medical Director is Board Certified and a Diplomat of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Call us we can help, services are Strictly Confidential and our staff are experienced in providing quality care, compassion, comfort and assistance to you.