What is pelvic inflammatory disease?
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) affects the female reproductive organs including the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. It is a common condition that mainly affects sexually active women aged 15 – 24. Most cases are caused by bacterial infection that begins in the vagina or cervix before spreading further up.
It is estimated that around 25% of cases of PID are caused by a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea or mycoplasma genitalium. In other cases it is thought to be caused by bacteria that normally occur in the vagina passing to the reproductive organs further up.
Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease
Some of the symptoms (signs) of pelvic inflammatory disease can be very mild or linked to other conditions making it hard to identify. Many women will have no symptoms at all. Where symptoms do occur, they can be;
- Pain in the pelvis (below the tummy button)
- Pain during sex and sometimes bleeding afterwards
- Pain when peeing (urinating)
- Unusually heavy or painful periods
- Bleeding between periods
- Unusual vaginal discharge (if it’s brown, red, green or smells bad)
Occasionally, women can experience severe symptoms such as very bad pain low down in their stomach, fever (high temperature) and feeling or being sick.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms contact a Devon Sexual Health clinic near you for advice or book an appointment. Delaying treatment can increase your risk of getting serious or long term complications.
Treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease
Antibiotics are usually used to treat pelvic inflammatory disease. The type of antibiotics will depend on the cause of the infection but will usually be an initial injection followed by a 14 day course of tablets. You need to take the full course of antibiotics, even if you have started to feel better. You should also avoid having sex, including oral, during this time until the infection has gone.
It is important that any sexual partners are also tested and treated to avoid reinfection. We can contact them anonymously on your behalf if it helps.
What should I do if I think I have pelvic inflammatory disease?
If you think you have pelvic inflammatory disease, you should book an appointment at a Devon Sexual Health clinic near you. The doctor or nurse at the clinic will need to examine you and do some tests to find out the cause of the infection.
Your doctor will ask you some questions about your lifestyle and your sexual health. It is likely that they will also carry out a pelvic examination to check for anything unusual. They will use a swab (a bit like a cotton bud) to take samples from the inside of your vagina and cervix. These are then used to look for signs of a bacterial infection and to identify the bacteria responsible. They may also take a blood test and request a urine sample.
How can I avoid getting pelvic inflammatory disease?
Around 25% of cases of PID are caused by an STI. You can reduce the risk of getting pelvic inflammatory disease by limiting the number of sexual partners you have, using condoms, having sexual health check-ups at the start or end of a relationship and by being aware of your partner’s sexual health and sexual history. If you have had PID before, have a history of other STIs, or have recently had sex with a partner with an STI, then you are more likely to get pelvic inflammatory disease.
If left untreated, PID can cause long term complications such as on-going pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy (where a fertilised egg begins to grow in a fallopian tube) or infertility. You can prevent long-term complications by making sure that you get treatment as early as possible.
Frequently asked questions about
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
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Have I got pelvic inflammatory disease?
If you are experiencing pain around the pelvis, pain during sex or bleeding afterwards, pain when urinating or vaginal discharge, then you should definitely call or book an appointment. You may have PID but these are also the symptoms of a number of sexually transmitted infections so it’s best to come and see us.
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Can pelvic inflammatory disease heal itself?
No, it needs treatment, and delaying starting antibiotics can lead to long term complications such as on-going pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, internal scarring, internal abscesses or infertility. A visit to a Devon Sexual Health Service clinic is friendly, professional and non-judgemental so please come and see us.
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Can pelvic inflammatory disease make me infertile?
Yes. If left untreated, PID can cause internal scarring and complications that can lead to infertility. NHS research indicates that up to 1 in 10 women with PID experience issues with fertility, even after successful antibiotic treatment.
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I’m pregnant, can I pass pelvic inflammatory disease onto my unborn child?
Pelvic inflammatory disease is very rare in pregnancy. If you are experiencing symptoms like this in pregnancy you should contact your GP, midwife or local antenatal unit as soon as possible for advice as it is likely you are experiencing a different problem.
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How soon after treatment can I start having sex again?
You need to avoid having sex until you have fully completed the course of antibiotics. This is usually 14 days. You must make sure that your partner has also been tested and treated to avoid reinfection.
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How do you get tested for pelvic inflammatory disease?
PID is what’s called a “clinical diagnosis”. The doctor or nurse who reviews you will decide based on your symptoms, examination and bedside tests whether you need treatment.
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Is pelvic inflammatory disease an STI?
Usually, but not always. PID is a bacterial infection that can sometimes be caused by an STI, particularly if the STI is left untreated. It can also be caused by bacteria that naturally occur in the vagina making its way further into the reproductive system
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Do my partner / partners need to be tested?
Yes. It is important that any recent or current sexual partners are notified and tested. We can help you with notifying a partner.
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Can I drink alcohol whilst taking Metronidazole?
Metronidazole reacts badly with alcohol and can make you feel very unwell. Manufacturers of metronidazole advise that you should avoid drinking alcohol while taking the antibiotic and for 48 hours after finishing the course. This is because it takes roughly 48 hours for metronidazole to be cleared from the body of an average adult.