Women who have been diagnosed with PID have been previously diagnosed with gonorrhea and Chlamydia, two other sexually transmitted diseases. "Much of the current knowledge of the longitudinal outcomes of women with PID has been driven by research on a Scandinavian cohort of PID patients enrolled between 1960 and 1984." (Wendling, 2011) Studies that have been done abroad have linked Pelvic inflammatory disease with abortion. "In Southeast Asia, post abortion infection is the leading cause of PID and in Pakistan twenty three percent of PID related to unsafe abortion." (Baxi, 2010)
The study of pelvic inflammatory disease has advanced in the last 25 years. Doctors are still looking into the long term treatment regimens that could help non pregnant women who are affected by this disease. Outpatient clinics are more aware of how broad this disease is and that it is affecting a wide spread number of women all over the world and are doing more routine testing to determine the infection of STDs early on to prevent the disease.
There are numerous factors that make women at risk for getting PID. Any woman who is sexually active is at risk for getting PID, or one of the STDs, gonorrhea or Chlamydia, that are linked to PID. Pelvic inflammatory disease is a disease that you will have for life. You can have one episode and never have symptoms again or you could have recurring episodes. Once you have one episode you are at high risk for having another. Younger females are more likely to have PID than older females, but the disease is not absent in older females. Having numerous sexual partners advances your odds of getting PID or STDs. "Some studies suggest that douching may contribute to PID. Douching may push bacteria into the upper genital tract and may mask the discharge that could alert woman to seek medical attention." (Smyth, 2011)
Pelvic inflammatory disease is a bacterial infection transmitted through sexual intercourse and bodily secretions. "Many studies suggest that a number of patients with PID and other sexually transmitted diseases are often infected with two or more infectious agents, and commonly these are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea." (Brotman, 2011) Some of the most common symptoms to look for with pelvic inflammatory disease are lower abdominal pain, back pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, unusual or heavy vaginal discharge, painful urination, and painful sexual intercourse. Some other symptoms not affecting the female organs are nausea, fever, and vomiting. Depending on your menstrual cycle these symptoms can worsen right before or right after the women's monthly period. Some tests doctors perform to find out if the female should go have an ultrasound done of the pelvic are to view the female organs to see if there is any visible evidence of infection. Some more severe tests, but less common ones, are an endometrial biopsy, where a small piece of the uterine lining is taken to be tested. Laparoscopy is another procedure where a scope is inserted into a small incision in the pelvic area to view the reproductive organs. (Brotman, 2011)
Once diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease doctors start treatment immediately. Treatment for this disease also varies due to the severity of the disease. If PID is found early enough treatment can be as simple as antibiotics. A doctor most likely will prescribe an oral antibiotic in the less severe cases. For more severe cases of PID doctors can prescribe antibiotics to be taken orally and possibly an intravenous dose. If these treatments have no effect and the disease worsens hospitalization is usually the next step. In the hospital the treatment is administered directly into the bloodstream. In the most severe cases surgery is recommended because PID has caused abscesses to form and need to be removed before they rupture causing a wide spread infection. (Brotman, 2011) "Depending on the conditions, this may be done with a laparoscope or with a procedure in which the doctor opens the abdomen to view the internal organs." (Smyth, 2011) These are both major surgeries, done in a hospital and anesthetics are involved. A long term effect of PID is infertility. Reoccurring episodes of the infection results in scar tissue to form in the fallopian tubes, this leads to infertility, or a tubular pregnancy. "Women with recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease are significantly more likely to report infertility and chronic pelvic pain long-term than are those without recurrent PID, according to a secondary analysis of the PEACH, or PID Evaluation and Clinical Health, study." (Wendling, 2011) Among the 209 adolescents in the analysis, 71% had a pregnancy, 51% had a live birth, 18% were characterized as infertile, and 39% had chronic pelvic pain. (Wendling, 2011)
Over the past 25 years, advances have been made towards the study and treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease. "In the past, PID was believed to be a monetiologic infection, primarily caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Today, the polymicrobic etiology of PID is well established and has led to utilization of broad spectrum antimicrobial regimens for treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease." (Wendling, 2011)
Every day more and more women are being affected by PID. "Every year more than a million women in the United States experience an episode of PID. As a result of PID, more than one hundred thousand women become infertile each year." (Smyth, 2011) Pelvic inflammatory disease is completely preventable with proper precautions. Untreated sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections are the most common factor in PID. When being sexually active take the proper precautions like using a condom, diaphragm, and spermicides. Going for annual check-ups at the doctor and being tested routinely can be a simple factor to catching any infection early on. If there are any signs of unusual symptoms a doctor should be consulted as quickly as possible. Pelvic inflammatory disease is the fastest growing disease affecting women in the world today. (Smyth, 2011)
Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection affecting the female reproductive organs. Pelvic inflammatory disease is most commonly caused by STI's or sexually transmitted infections that go untreated. Going to see a physician for a check-up may seem like a small gesture; however, this can actually help change a person's life in a huge way. Any symptoms that appear out of the ordinary should be reported to one's doctor if sexually active. If proper precautions are taken, PID or pelvic inflammatory disease can be completely preventable.
