PID's Infect One Million Women a Year: How to Survive Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

One million women are affected each year with pelvic inflammatory disease. Of those one million women, 100,000 will become infertile as a direct result of contracting PID. The damage can include scarring, blocked fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy and death. What is a PID and how do women get it?

Imagine waking one morning feeling tender in your lower abdomen and feeling alot of pressure over your bladder. You go on about your day feeling slightly achy and tired. By night time your fever soars to 102 or higher, it hurts to sit down, and you have shaking chills. Then the pain begins to come in waves and you rush to the emergency room. After running blood and urine tests, the doctor tells you, you have contracted a PID.

This is a bacterial infection of the female reproductive system. It is primarily caused by an STD such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. But... there are other causes, such as recent childbirth, a miscarriage or infection induced by a surgical procedure. Normally the vagina produces secretions that effectively kill off most bacteria. But in the case of PID, that protective barrier fails for some reason. Often because the patient has had sex with multiple partners or simply one who is infected with an STD.

The important things to understand here are that STD's are not the only cause of PID and that if an STD is the culprit, honesty and insistence on comprehensive bloodwork are vital in preventing infertility or death. These are truly dangerous infections that require a full course of treatment with antibiotics to make certain there is no residual infection left. PID's will go into "hiding", if minimally treated, then continue to do great damage to our reproductive systems, until they rage out of control again.

How do you know if you have PID? Intensely painful tenderness in the entire reproductive area, including extreme discomfort when placing pressure on the vaginal area. Severe pain during intercourse or pelvic examination point to PID being the culprit. Chills, fever, nausea, increased but skimpy urination, heavy bleeding, accompanied by unusual pain during menstruation are also good indicators of this infection. A really foul smelling discharge can accompany the other symptoms. If the pain is extreme and you have a fever over 100 degrees, you need immediate medical attention.

The doctor will order a specific set of blood tests and a urinalysis to rule out other things such as appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy or endometriosis. A pelvic exam will elicit the cardinal signs of tenderness, swelling or even a mass in the uterine area. The discharge if present will be collected and tested for the causative organisms. Sometimes the treating physician will order an ultrasound to take a closer look at any swelling or masses felt during pelvic examination. But normally with good care, a diagnosis is made on preliminary findings. This is because so many women contact PID here in the US.

Once the diagnosis is firm, the doctor will start IV antibiotics and admit the patient to the hospital. This decision will be based on whether the patient has come in early enough so the infection is still relatively mild. But.. if the infection is very far advanced, the physician will normally be prudent and admit to hospital for treatment. This is a terrible infection that has an enormous impact on your entire body. The pain can be so bad, the patient tries to stay as still as possible. Usually heavier narcotic pain meds are given, because of the severe swelling and pain. IV fluids are administered to help prevent the patient from going into shock from the infection. Good follow up care and paying attention to your body are critical elements in recovering fully from PID.

Because this infection can start quietly and simmer along unnoticed for quite awhile, it is important to be watchful if you begin feeling fatigued, tender and feverish. Or if you have had sex during your fertile times and notice a change in your periods, an exam is called for. Why? Because you may develop an ectopic pregnancy. This is one of the more dangerous side effects of PID. This normally comes about because of the scarring and thickening of the fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg travels down an open unscarred tube quite easily. But when the tube is thick or scarred, the egg may become lodged there. An unfertilized egg wouldn't cause a problem, but a fertilized one would begin to divide and start developing into a fetus. As the new embryo begins to get larger, it exerts painful pressure on the fallopian and uterine wall. Since this is not the nurturing environment of the womb, it begins to cause bleeding, intense pain and can lead to death if not treated quickly.

What can you do to avoid a PID? There are some things you can do to minimize your chances of getting one. First know your partner. Sex is an intimate act involving a very sensitive area of your body. If you don't know or trust your partner, you lose a main line of defense. While STD's aren't the only way to come down with this infection, it is a primary cause of many PID's

Be aware of when your risk of infections is greatest. After your menstrual period, childbirth, after a miscarriage or abortion, or post surgically. Shower instead of bathing for a few days. Sitting in a tub, with the mouth of the uterus relaxed and more open is asking for trouble. If you have any doubts about the cleanliness of your doctors office or hospital room, speak up. Any of these things can lead to a PID, when your body is vulnerable. Pure cotton underwear are much less likely to act as incubators for pelvic infections. Nylon and polyester increase perspiration and heat in an area you don't need help getting sick from. When using tampons during menstruation, be sure to change them frequently. When you think about it, they sit inside the same areas that both menstrual fluids, and infections emerge from. This must be kept free from anything that can help brew a nasty surprise. Don't douche. The vagina has its own fluids that help rid it of germs. Douching strips away the natural climate of the vaginal vault, leaving a doorway open for infection.

I wrote this in the hope that I can help other women avoid the multiple PID's I had. All of them were preventable, given what I know now. Every one I had cost me days in hospital and much pain. And every one was caused by careless cleaning of surgical implements and miscarriage. Don't let a fear of being thought to have an STD stop or delay getting treatment. While the focus is admittedly on STD's, particularly in teens who are most likely to get early infections, the other causes are well documented and supported by research. Timely treatment can save your life and help ensure your reproductive system stays healthy and strong.