Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Overview
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Causes
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Treatment
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Surgery
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on Pelvic Inflammatory Disease from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Describe Your Symptoms
• Viewer Comments: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Symptoms

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Overview

• cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix);
  
  
• salpingitis (inflammation of the Fallopian tubes);
  
  
• endometritis (inflammation present in the lining tissues of the uterus); and
  
  
• peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the abdominal organs).

All of these conditions may be considered as specific diseases but many investigators group them together as variations of PID, especially if they are caused by either Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Bacteria can infect the Fallopian tubes and cause inflammation (salpingitis). When this happens, normal tissue can become scarred and block the normal passage of an egg, causing infertility. But if Fallopian tubes are partially blocked, an egg may implant outside the uterus and cause a dangerous condition called an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can cause internal bleeding and even death. Scar tissue may also develop elsewhere in the abdomen and cause pelvic pain that can last for months or years.

• The two most commonly involved bacteria that cause PID are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, that cause the sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
  
  
• PID can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Some women can be very ill and have severe pain and fever. Others can have no obvious symptoms or even appear ill. Thus, PID is not always easy to diagnose. But it is important for women to seek medical attention if they have any risk factors for PID or symptoms of PID.
  
  
• PID affects more than 1 million women in the United States per year. Nearly 250,000 women are hospitalized annually because of PID.
  
  
• Sexually active adolescent females and women younger than 25 years are at greatest risk, although PID can occur at any age.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Causes

Pelvic inflammatory disease is most frequently caused by bacteria that are transmitted through sexual contact and other bodily secretions. Bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia cause more than half of cases. Many studies suggest that a number of patients with PID and other sexually transmitted diseases are often infected with two or more infectious agents, and commonly these are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Other organisms can also cause PID but are much less common.