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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Overview

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.

Bacteria can infect the fallopian tubes and cause inflammation. When this happens, normal tissue can become scarred and block the normal passage of an egg. You may become infertile (unable to become pregnant). But if your 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 your abdomen and cause pelvic pain that can last for months or years.

The 2 most commonly involved bacteria that cause PID are those of the sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea and chlamydia.

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 you to seek medical attention if you 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 women younger than 25 years are at greatest risk, although PID can occur at any age.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Causes

Pelvic inflammatory disease is caused by germs that are transmitted through sexual contact and other bodily secretions. Bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia cause more than half of cases. Other organisms found in the vagina can also cause PID but are much less common.