Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Cause
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
PID, sexually transmitted infection (STI), and bacterial vaginosis
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is
usually caused by a
sexually transmitted infection (STI) that infects the
cervix, which connects the upper vagina to the uterus.
When the cervix is infected with an STI, it becomes easier for other bacteria
present in the vagina to get into and infect the uterus and fallopian tubes.
PID can also develop as a result of
bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is a drop in the
vagina's "good" organisms and an increase in its potentially "bad" organisms.
When this happens and the problem organisms spread into the uterus and
fallopian tubes, PID can result. (BV is not sexually transmitted.) See a
picture of the
female pelvic organs
.
The most common causes of PID are:
- Gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted bacterial infection.
- Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. PID caused by chlamydia is most common among teenagers and young adult women.
PID caused by chlamydia may have milder symptoms or no symptoms (compared with PID caused by gonorrhea), which can delay diagnosis.
Practicing safe sex by using condoms prevents STIs. This greatly lowers PID risk. For more information, see the Prevention section of this topic.
For more information, see the topics Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Bacterial Vaginosis.
PID and intrauterine devices (IUDs)
Women who have an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted for birth control have a higher risk of getting PID in the first month after insertion, especially if bacterial vaginosis or an STI is present at the cervix at the time of insertion. The insertion procedure may transfer bacteria from the vagina or cervix to the uterus. Your risk of infection can be reduced if:
- You are tested and treated for STIs and bacterial vaginosis (if detected) before IUD insertion.
- The insertion is done carefully to minimize the chance of infection (clean technique).
PID that spreads to abdominal organs
PID can spread to other abdominal organs, either from the pelvic organs through the lymphatic system or from the far ends of the fallopian tubes. This may be more common in women who have just:
- Given birth.
- Had uterine tests or
other procedures, such as:
- Taking a tissue sample of the uterine lining (endometrial biopsy).
- Scraping the lining of the uterus (dilation and curettage, or D&C).
- Examining the uterus or fallopian tubes with a lighted viewing tube (hysteroscopy or hysterosalpingogram).
- Had an abortion.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: November 23, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
Welcome to Care Circle, an exclusive tool to help you take care of yourself and your loved ones. Here's how it works:
- Create profiles for yourself and your loved ones.
- Select the topics and conditions that interest each of you.
- Get customized news updates, original content, tools, and expert advice for each Care Circle member delivered directly to your personalized homepage.
The information you input is strictly private; you choose who has access to your Care Circle.
How do I add myself or someone else to my care circle?
Click on "Add someone." Fill out the short profile. Choose an avatar. Select the topics and conditions that interest this person from the pulldown menu. You can select as many as you want, but you must choose at least one. Click on "Add Someone" again. You should start getting updates immediately.
How do I save content to my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab of the person for whom you're saving content. Put your cursor over the piece of content that you want to save; a disk icon will appear in the righthand corner. Click on the disk and the piece of content will be moved to a save folder.
How do I add additional topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Add More to Follow," select additional topics and conditions.
How do I delete topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Follows," scroll over the topic or condition you want to delete. An "X" should appear on the righthand side. Click on the "X" and the topic or condition will be deleted from the list.
To manage your Care Circle, Please
Sign In.
from
- Facebook is now fueling organ donations
- Military women and suicide: Home safe but not sound
- Still in gear: Injuries don’t stop veterans on 100-day bike trek
- Ask Jenna: I've hit a weight loss plateau. What do I do?
- He poses in a tutu to laugh in face of wife's cancer
- After chemo hair loss, 'henna crowns' help heal
The iVillage Network