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Your health Pelvic inflammatory diseaseThe ABC of PID
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) affects hundreds of thousands of American women each year, yet many people have never heard of it. Here we give you the lowdown on PID, including how to treat and prevent this disease.Caused by bacteria, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection in a woman's upper genital tract or reproductive organs. Many cases stem from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), most commonly gonorrhea and chlamydia. If diagnosed quickly, PID can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, PID can lead to long-term complications, including chronic pelvic pain (see pelvic pain) and recurring PID. One in five women with PID becomes infertile. If a woman has recurring PID, she has a greater risk of infertility or an ectopic pregnancy. What are the symptoms?How can I prevent PID?Take action to prevent STDs and therefore protect yourself from PID by:
Symptoms vary from woman to woman, and can range from none at all to severe, making diagnosis difficult. See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
Just because you have one of these symptoms, it does not mean that you have PID–it could be a sign of another problem. Who is at risk PID?Although most common in young women, PID can occur at any age in sexually active women. The following are most at risk:
How is PID diagnosed?Because the affected organs are difficult to examine and symptoms can be similar to those of other problems, PID can be hard to diagnose. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, including sexual habits, birth control and symptoms. He or she may also do a pelvic exam to see if your reproductive organs are painful. If more information is needed, your doctor may order other tests such as an ultrasonagraphy, endometrial biopsy or a laparoscopy. What treatments are available?Thankfully PID can be treated and often cured. PID almost always involves more than one type of bacteria, and therefore often is treated with a combination of at least two antibiotics. As with all antibiotics, make sure you complete the course even if you feel better after a few days. Occasionally, it may be necessary to treat PID in a hospital if, for example, you are pregnant, severely ill or have to take antibiotics intravenously. Remember, see your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of PID–it can often be treated quickly and effectively. Related articles |
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