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[P169]Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Treatment

by James S. Pendergraft, Jam

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID is an infection of the women's reproductive organs or an inflammation of the female's uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. As this infection spreads it affects the nearby tissues and organs. The disease makes the normal tissues scarred and it further blocks the passage for an egg to pass. This prevents one from having children. In cases of the egg implanting itself outside the uterus, then a dangerous condition is formed which is called the ectopic pregnancy where it causes an internal bleeding and eventually death to the women.

PID occurs in more than a million women annually in the United States. Although the disease can occur at any age, it is seen more common among sexually active women under the age of 25. PID is caused mostly by the same disease that causes a sexually transmitted disease (STD).Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea are what mainly causes PID. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is caused through sexual contact with multiple partners, and it is researched that the bacteria or the germs which infects the pelvic areas can also enter through childbirth, miscarriage, endometrial biopsy, elective abortion or through insertion of an intrauterine device.

Symptoms of Pelvic inflammatory disease are fever, severe pain in abdomen or pelvis, irregular menstrual bleeding, painful sexual intercourse, and vaginal discharge with an abnormal colour or smell. Other symptoms include painful urination, nausea, and frequent urination, bleeding after intercourse, fatigue, and increased menstrual cramps and pain during ovulation. These symptoms however may occur even in patients with an ectopic pregnancy or infertility.

They are said to be suffering from a silent form of PID, not always harmful but is just a temporary condition. A technique called the sensitive serum pregnancy test can be performed to check for symptoms of ectopic pregnancy.

Occurrence of these above symptoms over a period of time when not under the condition of ectopic pregnancy or infertility to any women may be an onset to PID.

There are different forms of diagnosing PID.Ultrasounds of the Pelvic and vagina are used to diagnose ectopic pregnancy of over 6 weeks.Laproscopy is another technique that is used widely to diagnose PID.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is first treated with antibiotics and if no positive result is seen within 3 days of the medication, then the patient is required to visit the doctor for further treatment. These antibiotics are for mild cases of PID, and are given to the patient through an IV and later through the mouth. Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics that include tetracyclines, erythromycin, acithromycin and quinolones. Different antibiotics are used depending upon the nature and severity of the PID.

Patients suffering from Tubo-Ovarian abscesses are required to be hospitalized and treating the partners of STD is also a step to preventing and treating PID from occurring. Further, doctors also recommend the patient to visit a psychotherapist because most often women are diagnosed with anxiety pangs or acute fear of the disease still being present after being cured. Proper communication between the doctor and the patient is required to know the exact sufferings and symptoms occurring.

To Your Health!

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a serious infection in the upper genital tract or in reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries) of a female. The uterus, fallopian tubes, and other areas of a woman's upper genital tract become infected and inflamed causing pain, swelling, fever, and scarring. Although rare, a woman can develop PID without having an STD. No one is sure why this happens, but normal bacteria found in the vagina and on the cervix can cause PID.

Causes

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is most likely to occur between the ages of 15 and 25, in sexually active women. In many cases the cause is a germ (microbe) which is transmitted sexually. Sometimes, however it comes as a result of spread of an infection, in the blood stream, from other parts of the body. The most common causes of PID are chlamydia and gonorrhea, although other types of bacteria also play a role. PID is one of the leading causes of infertility in women. An ectopic pregnancy can cause internal bleeding and even death. Scar tissue may also develop elsewhere in your abdomen and cause pelvic pain that can last for months or years. Women who have an intrauterine device (IUD) may be at a slightly greater risk of PID than women who use other types of birth control. But this risk is greatly lowered when women are tested and treated for any infections before getting an IUD.

Symptoms

The symptoms of PID vary from woman to woman, and some women have no obvious symptoms at all. When symptoms are present, they may include:

* dull pain in the lower abdomen (on one side or both) that may get worse when you walk or move about
* pain during or after sex
* bleeding between periods or after sex
* lower back pain (either dull or sharp)
* a sense of pressure or swelling in the lower abdomen
* fever (often with chills)
* feeling tired or unwell
* abnormal vaginal discharge
* nausea, vomiting and dizziness
* leg pain
* increased period pain
* increased pain at ovulation
* burning or pain when urinating

Treatment

PID is a serious condition and requires immediate medical attention. If you are experiencing pelvic pain or symptoms you should see your gynecologist immediately.

If PID is found and it hasn't progressed to a stage severe enough to require major reconstructive surgery to repair the fallopian tubes, antibiotic therapy may be tried. Floxin is now approved by the FDA as the first oral medication approved for independent use to treat pelvic inflammatory disease.

Laparoscopy is a minor surgical procedure in which a thin, flexible tube with a lighted end (laparoscope) is inserted through a small incision in the lower abdomen. This procedure enables the doctor to view the internal pelvic organs and to take specimens for laboratory studies, if needed.

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Both James S. Pendergraft & Alien are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

James S. Pendergraft has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Alternative Medicine and Bacterial Vaginosis. Dr. James S. Pendergraft opened the Orlando Women's Center in March 1996.. James S. Pendergraft's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.

Alien has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pregnancy Problems, Fitness and Get Rid of Bed Bugs. Alien writes for . He also writes for