Pelvic Inflammatory Disease In Women

12 November, 2009 No Comment

Pelvic Inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the most common health problems known to afflict over 1 million women each year in the United States alone.

Pelvic Inflammatory disease is a broad term that is used to indicate an array of infections of the inner reproductive organs such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, endometrium, ligaments supporting the uterus etc.

PID carries a high risk factor for the development of infertility or ectopic pregnancy. Research tells us the 1 out of every 4 women diagnosed with PID go on to develop either of these complications. When the disease causes infertility due to infection in the fallopian tubes it is termed as saplingitis.

Symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease:
PID does not always have any pronounced symptoms and may linger on as a ‘silent’ invader. Some women do have mild symptoms, particularly if the disease is caused by the organism Chlamydia trachomatis. PID is marked by a dull, persistent pain in the lower abdomen that tends to increase with physical activity or during sexual intercourse.

Many women also notice a vaginal discharge in case of a simultaneous infection of the birth canal or cervix. Some women with PID may also have fever, nausea and vomiting. But this usually happens when the infection is transmitted to the abdominal lining, a condition known as peritonitis.

Causes of Pelvic Inflammatory disease:
PID is usually caused by different types of bacteria, the most common ones being Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Both bacteria are transmitted by sexual intercourse. Infections caused by gonorrhea spread more rapidly and have more intense symptoms than those caused by Chlamydia.

Symptoms of PID caused by Chlamydia are milder and may take months or even years to develop. In both cases however, abdominal pain usually begins during or after menstruation.

Risk factors of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease:
The most common risk factor for PID is sexual intercourse. As per research, 75% of all PID cases occur in women below the age of 25 years who are sexually active. The risk of PID increases if a woman has a number of sexual partners.

If a woman has a single sexual partner, the risk of PID is considerably reduced and if her partner has had a vasectomy, it is negligible. Also, women who use intrauterine devices as contraceptive measures are at an increased risk for PID.

Barrier methods such as diaphragms, condoms and spermicides would be a better option as they inhibit the movement of bacteria up the reproductive tract. Frequent douching post-intercourse also increases a woman’s chances of developing PID.

Consequences of PID:
The most devastating consequences of PID are infertility and ectopic pregnancy. Infection caused by PID can injure the reproductive organs, thereby resulting in infertility.

The organism Gonorrhea has the potential of permanently scarring the fallopian tubes making them unfit to transfer eggs to the uterus. Chlamydia on the other hand tends to remain in the tubes for months or years and damages the fallopian tubes.

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