What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Introduction

An infection of the female reproductive system, including the womb, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, is referred to as pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID for short.

It is unknown how many people in the Nigeria are afflicted with PID, despite the fact that it being a common condition.

Symptoms of a disease that affects the pelvic region (PID)

PID frequently does not result in any noticeable symptoms.

The majority of patients only experience mild symptoms, which may include one or more of the following:

• A dull ache in the region of the pelvis or the lower abdomen
• Discomfort or pain experienced during sexual activity that is localized to the interior of the pelvis
• Discomfort while urinating
• Experiencing bleeding in between periods and after sexual activity
• Heavy periods
• Painful periods

Discharge from the vagina that is not normal, particularly if it is yellow, green, or smelly
A small number of people develop severe illnesses due to:

• A severe ache in the abdominal region
• An extremely high degree (fever)
• Feeling and being unwell

When to seek the opinion of a physician

If you have any signs of PID, it is critical that you get medical attention from a primary care physician or a clinic that specializes in sexual health.

If you are experiencing significant pain, you should contact your primary care physician or the emergency room in your area as soon as possible for immediate assistance.

If you put off getting treatment for PID or have multiple episodes of it, you put yourself at a greater risk of developing serious complications in the long run.

There is no one straightforward test that can diagnose PID. Your symptoms, along with the finding of tenderness during a vaginal (internal) examination, will serve as the basis for the diagnosis.

You will have swabs taken from both your vagina and the neck of the womb (the cervix), but a negative swab result does not necessarily rule out PID.

The factors that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

The majority of cases of PID are brought on by a bacterial infection that begins in the vagina or the cervix and travels up to the higher reproductive organs from there.

PID can be caused by a wide variety of different bacterial species. It is often the result of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, as is the case in many instances.

It is believed that an additional type of sexually transmitted infection known as mycoplasma genitalium is increasingly responsible for cases of PID.

In the majority of other instances, the infection is brought on by bacteria that are normally found in the vagina.

Medications used in the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

PID can be treated with an antibiotic regimen that typically consists of 14 days’ worth of medication if it is detected and diagnosed at an early stage.

You will receive a combination of antibiotics to treat the most likely infections, and in addition to the tablets, you will frequently receive an injection.

In order to facilitate the infection’s elimination and ensure a healthy outcome, it is essential to finish the treatment and abstain from sexual activity during this period.

Your most recent sexual partners need to be tested for the infection as well, and if they test positive, they need to be treated so that the infection does not come back or spread to other people.

Complications

PID can cause scarring and a narrowing of the fallopian tubes, which can make it difficult to conceive. Eggs may have a more difficult time traveling from the ovaries to the uterus as a result of this.

This can then lead to an increase in your chances of having a pregnancy in the fallopian tubes instead of the womb in the future. This condition is known as an ectopic pregnancy.

As a consequence of the condition, infertility may develop in some individuals who have PID. People who have delayed treatment or who have experienced PID episodes more than once are at the greatest risk.

However, the vast majority of people who are treated for PID will not experience any issues when trying to conceive a child.

Eliminating the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

When engaging in sexual activity with a new partner, you should always use a condom until that person has been evaluated for their sexual health. This will help lower your risk of acquiring PID.

Chlamydia is extremely common in young men, the majority of whom show no symptoms of having the infection.

If you are concerned that you may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI), seek advice from a genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic in your area.

Before undergoing a gynecological procedure that is considered to be invasive, such as the insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) or an abortion, you should go in for a checkup.

If you have any questions or concerns about what is written here please comment in the discussion below or contact us Rovich Diagnostic Services for consultancy.