Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

• Constant pain in lower abdomen
• Raised body temperature
• Increased vaginal discharge and/or smell
• Chills
• Fever
• Headache
• Frequent or painful urination
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Bloating and diarrhea

Pelvic inflammatory disease is mainly caused by bacterial infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea in the patient’s lower genital tract (which includes the cervix and vagina). The bacteria enters the upper genital tract via the cervix, which causes pelvic inflammatory disease.

Risk Factors

• Past vaginal or cervical infection
• Post-miscarriage
• Frequent vaginal lavage
• Multiple sexual partners

In order to diagnose pelvic inflammatory disease, the abdomen and vagina must be examined first. If there is thick yellow discharge from the cervix during vaginal examination, a sample will be taken for bacterial culture.

Alternatively, other possible examinations include: ultrasound scan, computer scan, or laparoscopy to observe the condition of the internal abdominal cavity; blood test, which will indicate an increased white blood cell count if there is inflammation; or urinalysis, except for cases where the patient is pregnant or may have a urinary tract infection.

Treatment

If a patient is diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease, it can be treated with antibiotics administered orally, via intramuscular injection or intravenous injection. Patients must also strictly follow doctor’s instructions regarding medication. Stopping too early may cause a relapse or drug resistance problems, making treatment more difficult. If a scan finds empyema in the pelvic cavity, surgery is required to remove the pus and clean the abdominal cavity in order to prevent bacteria from seeping into blood or other organs.

As pelvic inflammatory disease is closely related to sexual activity, patients should arrange for partners to undergos relevant examinations to prevent re-infection.