Treatment of PID

Diagnosing & Evaluating PID

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is peculiar to women and is generally caused by a sexually transmitted disease, particularly Chlamydia or gonorrhoea, which has gone undiagnosed.  If can also occur as a result of any type of vaginal procedure, including birth and abortion or even the insertion of an IUD.  The infection goes up through the uterus, into the fallopian tubes and there can infect other tissues as well as cause scarring which can ultimately lead to infertility and other complications.

PID is difficult to diagnose. However, with a clinical evaluation and testing for various STDs, the health care professional can discover PID and determine a course of treatment.  If a woman has pain in the pelvic region and other symptoms of PID, it is vitally important that care and treatment are sought immediately.  By acting promptly, damage to the reproductive organs can be prevented.  The longer she waits, the more likely infertility or a future ectopic pregnancy (growth of an embryo outside of the womb) will await her.

Treatment Options

Antibiotics are often used as a form of treatment for pelvic inflammatory disease and the best course of medicine is determined by the medical provider.  Any damage which has already occurred to the reproductive organs cannot be reversed with antibiotics. Since there is such difficulty in isolating the organisms causing infection of the organs, and because more than one organism may be the cause of the PID, the use of two antibiotics are considered to be effective against a wider range of infectious bacteria and viruses.  The antibiotics can be administered by shot or orally.  Even though the symptoms may disappear quickly, it is advisable to complete the course of medication to ensure the infection does not reoccur.  Evaluation by the health care provider, two or three days into the treatment, can give evidence as to the effectiveness of the medicine.  It is also advisable for a woman's sexual partner(s) to be treated in order to decrease the chance for re-infection - even if he displays no symptoms.  As mentioned, the organisms which cause PID can be present with symptoms or signs.

Hospitalization if Necessary

There are several situations which may require hospitalization: severe illness, including vomiting, fever and nausea; pregnancy;  the body not responding to antibiotics or the patient not being able to take them orally and requiring intravenous application; the presence of ovarian or fallopian tube abscess and the need to be checked to ensure the pain is not due to something other than PID.