Experiences with
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
PID often does not cause any obvious symptoms.
Most symptoms are mild and may include 1 or more of the following:
- pain around the pelvis or lower tummy
- discomfort or pain during sex that's felt deep inside the pelvis
- pain when peeing
- bleeding between periods and after sex
- heavy periods
- painful periods
- unusual vaginal discharge, especially if it's yellow, green or smelly
A few people become very ill with:
- severe pain in the tummy
- a high temperature (fever)
- feeling and being sick
Causes of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Most cases of PID are caused by a bacterial infection that's spread from the vagina or the cervix to the reproductive organs higher up.
Many different types of bacteria can cause PID. In many cases, it's caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
Another type of STI called mycoplasma genitalium is thought to be increasingly responsible for cases of PID.
In many other cases, it's caused by bacteria that normally live in the vagina.
Treatment for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
If diagnosed at an early stage, PID can be treated with a course of antibiotics, which usually lasts for 14 days.
You'll be given a mixture of antibiotics to cover the most likely infections, and often an injection as well as tablets.
It's important to complete the whole course and avoid having sexual intercourse during this time to help ensure the infection clears.
Your recent sexual partners should also be treated for any sexually transmitted infections that may have caused your PID. This will help stop it coming back or spreading to other people.
Preventing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
You can reduce your risk of PID by always using barrier contraception, such as condoms, with a new sexual partner until they have had a sexual health check.
Chlamydia is very common and most people do not have any symptoms.
If you're worried you may have an STI, visit your local genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic for advice.
If you need an invasive gynaecological procedure, such as insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) or an abortion, have a check-up beforehand.
SymptomsMedical treatmentsCausesPreventionSymptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include pain in the tummy, pain when peeing and heavy or painful periods.
Pelvic inflammatory disease is treated with antibiotics. Getting treated as soon as symptoms appear increases the chances of a full recovery.
Many cases of pelvic inflammatory disease are caused by a sexually transmitted infection, such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
You can reduce your risk of pelvic inflammatory disease by always using barrier contraception such as condoms with a new sexual partner.
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