Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is inflammation or infection of the internal organs in the pelvis of people with a vagina and uterus. The most common causes of PID are bacterial infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Symptoms of PID may include:

• pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen
• pain during sex
• unusual bleeding, heavier and/or more painful periods
• abnormal vaginal discharge
• fever

PID is diagnosed by examination by your doctor or nurse.

PID is commonly caused by sexually transmissible infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and mycoplasma genitalium. PID can also occur after pelvic operations such as pregnancy termination.

PID is treated with a combination of antibiotics.

Sexual partners should be offered testing for STIs and treatment may be recommended.

• It is important to return to your doctor or clinic for follow-up appointments.
• Untreated PID can lead to long-term problems such as chronic pelvic pain,
• difficulty getting pregnant, and/or an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.