What are the most common symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Symptoms may be mild or completely absent in some cases, which makes early diagnosis difficult. However, when symptoms do occur, the most common is lower abdominal pain.

Common Symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

In addition to lower abdominal pain, other symptoms that may indicate PID include [1]:

• Fever: An elevated body temperature may be a sign of infection.
• Abnormal vaginal discharge: You may notice a foul-smelling or unusual colored discharge.
• Bleeding between menstrual periods: Bleeding or spotting may occur between periods.
• Pain or bleeding during sexual intercourse: Intercourse may be painful or cause bleeding.
• Pain during urination: You may feel a burning sensation or pain while urinating.

It is important to note that these symptoms may be so mild that you do not notice them, or there may be no symptoms at all, which is known as silent PID [3]. This makes regular screening and awareness of risk factors crucial.

When Should You See a Doctor?

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, or if you believe that you or your partner have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (STI), it is essential to see a doctor immediately [1]. Early treatment for PID is very important to prevent serious complications.

Delaying treatment increases the risk of complications such as:

• Infertility: PID can cause scarring in the fallopian tubes, which blocks the passage of the egg and leads to difficulty conceiving [1]. Approximately 1 in 8 women who have had PID experience difficulties getting pregnant [3].
• Ectopic pregnancy: Scarring in the fallopian tubes may cause the fertilized egg to implant outside the uterus, a dangerous condition that requires urgent medical care [1].
• Chronic pelvic pain: Some women may experience pelvic pain that persists for a long time after the infection has been treated [3].
• Abscesses: Pockets of pus (abscesses) may form in the reproductive organs, which may require hospitalization or surgery in some cases [1].

Diagnosis and Treatment

There is no single specific test to diagnose PID. Diagnosis is usually based on reviewing your medical and sexual history, evaluating symptoms, performing a pelvic exam, and requesting blood tests, urine tests, and imaging [1]. In some cases, a laparoscopy may be used to confirm the diagnosis, which is a minor surgical procedure that allows the doctor to view the internal organs directly [2].

PID is treated with antibiotics. It is essential to complete the entire course of treatment, even if symptoms disappear, to ensure the infection is completely eliminated [1]. Recent sexual partners should be informed so they can be tested and treated to prevent reinfection [3]. To delve deeper into this topic, you can visit our comprehensive article on Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Hidden Symptoms, Diagnosis, and the Impact of Delay on Fertility (Arabic).

Prevention

To reduce the risk of PID, it is advised to practice safe sex by using condoms regularly, limiting the number of sexual partners, and getting regular screenings for sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea [1]. Avoid vaginal douching, as it can push bacteria into the reproductive organs and mask signs of infection [1].

Medical references

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• About Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Laparoscopy