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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (cont.)

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.