MamasHealth.com Home Women's Health Adenomyosis Atrophic vaginitis Bartholin's abscess Cervical dysplasia Cervical polyps Cervictis Depo provera Domestic violence Endometrial hyperplasia Endometrial polyps Endometriosis Escape an attacker Folic acid Finding time for sex Hormone therapy Alternatives How to be a better mom HPV scare Important health tests Labial reduction surgery Menorrhagia Menopause Menstrual cramps Midlife checklist Mittelschmerz Moms need friends too Ovarian cysts Painful sex Pelvic exams PID PMS Polycystic ovarian Preeclampsia Pregnancy Salpingitis Toxic shock syndrome 1 Toxic shock syndrome 2 Urinary incontinence Urinary tract infection Uterine bleeding Uterine fibroids Vaginal cysts Vaginal dryness Vaginal rejuvenation Vaginal warts Vaginismus Vaginitis Vulvar dystrophy Vulvitis Vulvodynia Women & calcium Women & medicine Women & heart Disease Yeast infections Links Email Mama Tips to get him in the mood Why women should care about prostate cancer Donating your eggs Help for rape victims Stay at home moms Women and calcium 9 things women should know about men Shy girls guide to flirting	What is a Pelvic Inflammatory Disease? Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the female reproductive organs. The female reproductive organs are the: uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix and ovaries. Pelvic inflammatory disease is also called PID. What Causes a Pelvic Inflammatory Disease? Pelvic inflammatory disease is most often caused by bacteria. It usually occurs when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from your vagina to your uterus and upper genital tract. The most common bacteria that cause pelvic inflammatory disease also cause gonorrhea and chlamydia. Many women with gonorrhea and chlamydia develop pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease may also develop when bacteria travel up a contraceptive device or when they're introduced during gynecologic procedures. Bacteria can be introduced via the following gynecologic procedures: insertion of an IUD or an abortion. Symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease For many women who develop pelvic inflammatory disease, no symptoms are present. When symptoms are present, the most common symptoms are: Pain in your lower abdomen and pelvis Heavy vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor Irregular menstrual bleeding Pain during intercourse Low back pain Fever Fatigue Diarrhea Vomiting Painful or difficult urination Complications of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease If not treated properly, complications may occur. The most common complications are: Infertility Ectopic pregnancy Peritonitis Septicemia Sepsis Inflammation and infection of your joints Can Pelvic Inflammatory Disease be Treated? Pelvic inflammatory disease can be treated. Some common treatments are: antibiotics, ibuprofen and bed rest.
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