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.
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.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is infection of a woman's reproductive
organs. Infection spreads upward from the cervix to the uterus, Fallopian tubes,
ovaries, and surrounding structures. Some of these conditions are also referred
to as:
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.
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.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Symptoms
If a woman has PID, she may have any of these symptoms:
Abdominal pain (especially lower abdominal pain) or tenderness
Back pain
Abnormal uterine bleeding
Unusual or heavy vaginal discharge
Painful urination
Painful sexual intercourse
Symptoms not related to the female reproductive organs include fever, nausea,
and vomiting.
PID symptoms may be worse at the end of a menstrual period and during the
first several days following a period.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Symptoms
If a woman has PID, she may have any of these symptoms:
Abdominal pain (especially lower abdominal pain) or tenderness
Vaginal infections, or vaginitis is an
inflammation of the vagina that
creates discharge, odor, irritation, or itching. It is difficult to diagnose
because vaginitis has many causes. Women use a variety of over-the-counter
medications to treat the itching, discharge, and discomfort of these conditions.
The vagina creates its own environment and maintains a
balance among the normal bacteria found there and the hormonal changes in a
woman's body. Vaginitis occurs when the vaginal ecosystem has been changed by
certain medications such as antibiotics, hormones, contraceptive preparations
(oral and topical), douches, vaginal medication, sexual intercourse, sexually
transmitted diseases, stress, and change in sexual partners.
Some vaginal infections are transmitted through sexual contact, but others
such as yeast infections probably are not. Vaginitis means inflammation and is
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