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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (cont.)

Prevention

You can take these steps to avoid pelvic inflammatory disease or to keep PID from getting worse:

  • Frequent vaginal douching is a potential risk factor for PID. Douching may push bacteria into the upper genital tract. Douching also may ease discharge caused by an infection, so you may not think you have a symptom and would delay seeking medical care. Do not use douches. Your vagina cleans itself naturally. Regular showers and baths are enough.

  • Wipe from front to back after a bowel movement. This keeps bacteria from entering your vagina.

  • If you have vaginal itching, do not scratch. Wash with water only, use no potentially irritating soaps.

As in other sexually transmitted diseases, education is the way to prevent PID.

  • Practice safe sex, if you choose to have sexual intercourse. Use barrier devices such as a latex condom. Use only water-based lubricants with condoms. For oral sex, use a device called a dental dam. This is often used by dentists. It's a rubbery device you place over the opening of your vagina before having oral sex. If you don't have a dental dam, you can cut an unlubricated male condom open and place it over the opening to your vagina.

  • Birth control pills and intrauterine devices do not prevent PID. Recently inserted intrauterine devices (IUDs), in fact, may put you at risk.

  • Make sure your sexual partner is treated if you are diagnosed with a bacterial infection such as a sexually transmitted disease, or you may become reinfected. Limit your sexual partners and avoid high-risk partners.

  • If you are at risk for PID, have regular tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease »

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an inflammatory disorder of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and adjacent pelvic structures.

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