What is pelvic inflammatory disease?

Pelvic inflammatory disease, also known as PID, is a group of infections that occur in the female reproductive tract. It includes endometritis, salpingitis, fallopian tube ovarian abscesses, and pelvic peritonitis, which may occur alone or at the same time. PID is one of the most common diseases that women may experience.

If not treated thoroughly or in a timely manner, PID may lead to infertility, fallopian tube pregnancies, chronic pelvic pain, and repeated inflammation, which will seriously affect women's reproductive health.

Who is more likely to get PID?

1. Sexual activity: Women who are sexually active are more likely to get PID, especially those who were sexually active at a young age, have many sexual partners, have frequent intercourse, or whose sex partners have sexually transmitted diseases and do not use condoms.

2. Women who have received uterine cavity surgery: surgeries such as abortion, curettage, hydrotubation, fallopian tube angiography, hysteroscopy, etc. will increase the likeliness of getting PID.

3. Women with hygiene issues: Having sex while menstruating, not paying attention to hygiene before and after intimacy, using unclean sanitary products, not changing sanitary napkins frequently, and abusing intimate washing agents, will all increase the incidence of PID.

4. Decrease in the body's resistance: If you have had PID before, there is a 25 percent chance of recurrence; the direct spread of appendicitis and peritonitis may also lead to PID.

Symptoms of PID

Typical symptoms:

1. Continuous abdominal pain, which will be aggravated after activity or sexual life, is the main symptom of PID.

2. Pressing pain in the cervix and surrounding area.

3. Increased vaginal secretions and abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Other symptoms:

1. If the condition is serious, symptoms such as high fever, headache, and lack of appetite may occur.

2. Increase in menstruation and a prolonged menstrual period may occur if a woman gets PID during the menstrual period.

3. If there is peritonitis, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and diarrhea may occur.

What should you do if you get PID?

Medical treatment:

If the abdominal pain is unbearable and accompanied by a high fever, do not hesitate to go to the hospital immediately and receive intravenous or oral medication according to the advice of a doctor. Antibacterial drugs should be taken for at least 14 days.

Surgical treatment:

Surgery is needed if an abscess forms, or if the patient still suffers a high fever, severe condition, or broken abscesses after more than three days of antibiotic therapy.

How to prevent PID?

1. Pay attention to hygiene and refuse sex while menstruating, or during PID treatment. Say NO to partners with sexually transmitted diseases.

2. Pay attention to feminine hygiene, but avoid abusing washing agents, so as not to destroy the natural vaginal ecology.

3. Reduce pelvic organ damage and avoid uterine cavity operations such as induced abortion and induced labor.

4. Treat vaginitis and cervicitis in a timely manner to prevent sequelae.

Tips:

It is easy to have reoccurring PID. The symptoms will be alleviated as soon as the medication is taken, but there is a high chance that PID will reoccur in a few months. Patients must take medicine according to their doctor's advice.

Address for treatment:

Expert clinics can be found in Area B, 3rd Floor, or in Area C, 4th Floor at the Outpatient Clinic, Ranjiaba Branch of the Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children (Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University), or CQHCWC

Tel: 023-60354521; 023-60354522