Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Summary

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection and inflammation of the uterus, ovaries, and other female reproductive organs. It causes scarring in these organs. This can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic pain, abscesses, and other serious problems. PID is the most common preventable cause of infertility in the United States.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia, two sexually transmitted diseases, are the most common causes of PID. Other bacteria can also cause it. You are at greater risk if you:

• Are sexually active and younger than 25
• Have more than one sex partner
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Some women have no symptoms. Others have pain in the lower abdomen, fever, smelly vaginal discharge, irregular bleeding, and pain during intercourse or urination. Doctors diagnose PID with a physical exam, lab tests, and imaging tests. Antibiotics can cure PID. Early treatment is important. Waiting too long increases the risk of infertility.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease National Institutes of Health

Encyclopedia

• Diagnostic laparoscopy Medical Encyclopedia
• Endometritis Medical Encyclopedia
• Pelvic laparoscopy Medical Encyclopedia

Related Issues

• Douching Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health

Diagnosis and Tests

• Laparoscopy National Library of Medicine
• Pneumothorax – series — Normal Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease American Academy of Family Physicians
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Fact Sheet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Teenagers

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Nemours Foundation

Patient Handouts

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) Medical Encyclopedia
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — aftercare Medical Encyclopedia

Statistics and Research

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Treatments and Therapies

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Treatment and Care Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Journal Articles

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease