Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Treatment

The infection that causes pelvic inflammatory disease can be eliminated with prompt medical treatment. However, there is no way to undo any scarring or damage that PID may have done to the reproductive tract. Most frequently, PID treatment entails:

• Antibiotics. Your doctor will recommend a set of antibiotics that you should start taking right away. Your doctor might change your medication to better match the infection's underlying cause after reviewing the findings of your lab tests. After three days, you'll probably have a check-up with your doctor to make sure the medication is having the desired effect. Even if you feel better after a few days, make sure to take all of your prescriptions.
• Treating your partner. Your sexual partner or partners should be evaluated and treated to avoid reinfection with an STI. Partners who are infected might not exhibit any symptoms.
• A brief abstention. Till all symptoms have disappeared and treatment is finished, you might need to refrain from sexual activity.

You might require hospitalization if you're pregnant, critically ill, have a suspected abscess, or if your condition hasn't improved after trying oral treatments. A combination of oral and intravenous antibiotics may be administered during your hospital stay.

Moreover, your healthcare professional might remove an abscess, though, if it ruptures or looks like it might, through an incision. If you don't respond to antibiotic therapy or have a dubious diagnosis, you can potentially require surgery.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Prevention

To lower your chance of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, take note of the following:

• Sex should be safe. Limit your number of partners, always use condoms, and enquire about a partner's sexual history.
• Consult with your doctor about contraception. Numerous methods of birth control do not prevent PID from developing. Utilizing barrier techniques, like a condom, can assist to lower your risk. Use a condom each time you have intercourse with a new partner, even if you take birth control pills, to guard against STIs.
• Get tested. Make an appointment with your provider for testing if you think you may have an STI. If necessary, set up a routine screening regimen with your doctor. Treating an STI as soon as possible is the best chance of preventing PID.
• Ask to have your partner tested. Encourage your partner to get tested and treated if you have an STI or pelvic inflammatory disease. By doing this, STI transmission and potential PID recurrence can be stopped.
• Avoid douching. Douching throws off the bacteria's delicate balance in your vagina.

References

Barrett, S., & Taylor, C. (2005). A review on pelvic inflammatory disease. International journal of STD & AIDS, 16(11), 715-720.

Barrett, S., & Taylor, C. (2005). A review on pelvic inflammatory disease. International journal of STD & AIDS, 16(11), 715-720.

Crossman, S. H. (2006). The challenge of pelvic inflammatory disease. American family physician, 73(5), 859-864.

Simms, I., Stephenson, J. M., Mallinson, H., Peeling, R. W., Thomas, K., Gokhale, R., ... & Hernon, M. (2006). Risk factors associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. Sexually transmitted infections, 82(6), 452-457.

Soper, D. E. (2010). Pelvic inflammatory disease. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 116(2 Part 1), 419-428.