Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
(PID)
In this condition factsheet:
Diagnosing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PID can be hard to diagnose because symptoms are often unnoticed. If a doctor suspects PID after a physical exam (including an internal pelvic exam), treatment is started immediately.
A swab sample is usually taken from the cervix and tested to rule out gonorrhea or chlamydia. Additional tests such as blood tests, a pregnancy test, tests for STIs, ultrasound, biopsy, or laparoscopy (a fibre-optic tube is inserted through the abdominal wall allowing the doctor to see the internal pelvic organs) may be performed if more information is needed.
Treating and Preventing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PID can be cured with antibiotics, but it's important to start treatment as early as possible. Most people are treated at home, but some will be treated in the hospital. Hospitalization may be needed for those who:
- are very ill, including persistent nausea and vomiting
- may be pregnant
- did not respond to or cannot take oral antibiotics
- have an abscess (collection of pus)
- have severe symptoms or a high fever
- may have other disorders (e.g., appendicitis)
Treatment usually consists of at least 2 antibiotics, which commonly include ceftriaxone, doxycycline, metronidazole, or levofloxacin. More than one antibiotic is used because it can be difficult to identify the bacteria causing PID. To avoid reinfection, sexual partners should also be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia even if they don't have symptoms.
PID can be prevented by:
- abstaining from sexual intercourse or only having intercourse in a mutually monogamous relationship (where neither of you has sex with anyone else and both of you have tested negative for STIs)
- using condoms to prevent STIs
- getting frequent testing and early treatment for STIs
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Pelvic-Inflammatory-Disease
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