What is PID and How to prevent it?

What is PID?

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the fallopian tubes, uterus, or ovaries. Most girls develop PID as a result of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.

In the United States, each year more than 750,000 women will develop PID. Most of those infected will be teenagers and young women. Girls with multiple partners and those who don't use condoms are most likely to get STDs and are at risk for PID. If PID goes untreated, it can lead to internal scarring that can result in chronic pelvic pain, infertility, or an ectopic pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of PID?

PID can cause severe symptoms or very mild to no symptoms. Girls who do have symptoms may notice:

•pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen
•foul-smelling or abnormally colored discharge
•pain during sexual intercourse
•spotting between periods
•chills or fever
•nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
•loss of appetite
•backache and perhaps even difficulty walking
•painful or more frequent urination
•pain in the upper abdomen on the right

How to prevent PID?

PID can be prevented.The best way to prevent PID is usually as follows:

Practice safer sex. Because pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can be sexually transmitted, using a latex or female condom can reduce the risk of PID.

Don't douche. Though douching does not cause PID, it can spread infections from the vagina into the uterus and fallopian tubes, increasing the risk of PID.

If you think you may have been exposed to chlamydia or gonorrhea, get tested. Most women with these sexually transmitted infections have no symptoms and may develop PID without knowing it.