Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

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Pelvic laparoscopy Female reproductive anatomy Endometritis Uterus

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

The most common symptoms of PID include:

• vaginal discharge with abnormal color, consistency or odor
• abdominal pain either localized or generalized
• fever (not always present)
  • may range from transient to constant
  • low grade to high

Other nonspecific symptoms that may be seen with PID include:

• chills
• irregular menstrual bleeding or spotting
• increased menstrual cramping
• menstruation, absent
• increased pain during ovulation
• sexual intercourse, painful
• bleeding after intercourse
• low-back pain
• fatigue
• lack of appetite
• nausea, with or without vomiting
• frequent urination
• pain with urination
• point tenderness

Note: There may be no symptoms. People who experience ectopic pregnancies (pregnancies where the embryo implants in the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus) or infertility are often found to have so-called "silent" PID, which is usually caused by chlamydia infection.

A general examination may reveal fever and abdominal tenderness. Pelvic examination may reveal cervical discharge, cervical motion tenderness (pain with movement of the cervix during a pelvic exam), a friable cervix (bleeds easily), uterine tenderness, or adnexal (ovarian) tenderness.

Tests include:

• a WBC
• an ESR (sed rate)
• a wet prep or wet mount microscopic examination
• a serum HCG (pregnancy test)
• an endocervical culture for gonorrhea, chlamydia, or other organisms
• a laparoscopy (may be needed)
• pelvic ultrasound or CT scan (may be needed)

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