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Writer's pictureKeisha Jenkins

#19:“When “Her” Goes Wrong!: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease”

Updated: Mar 22, 2023


Good morning beauties! You know what today is ….#WOMENWEDNESDAYS!!!! Over the past couple of weeks we have been learning great information regarding Ruby Red aka Menstruation. But today, we are focusing on Her aka the Uterus. But what happens when “She” goes wrong? Let’s get started shall we? We are going to be talking about Pelvic Inflammatory Disease aka PID.

 

What is PID?

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs. Usually PID is caused by bacteria from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sometimes PID is caused by normal bacteria found in the vagina. If left untreated, PID can cause problems getting pregnant, problems during pregnancy, and long-term pelvic pain.


GIRL, DID YOU KNOW?!

  • 1 in 8 women with a history of PID experience difficulties getting pregnant.

  • In some case, a woman with PID will not have any symptoms and the inflammation will go away without medical treatment. As a result, up to ⅔ of women with PID do not even realise they have the condition.

  • An estimated one million women are treated for PID in the United States each year, and some 75,00 suffer infertility because of damage to the uterus and fallopian tubes resulting from untreated PID.


WHO GETS PID?

  • PID affects about 5% of women in the United States. Your risk for PID is higher if you:

    • Have had an STI

    • Have had PID before

    • Are younger than 25 and have sex. PID is most common is women 15 to 24 years old.

    • Have more than one sex partner or have a partner who has multiple sexual partners

    • Douche. Douching can push bacteria into the reproductive organs and case PID. Douching can also hide the signs of PID.

    • Recently had an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted. The risk of PID is higher for the first few weeks only after insertion of an IUD, but PID is rare after that. Getting tested for STIs before the IUD is inserted lowers your risk for PID.


SIGNS & SYMPTOMS?

  • Pain in the Lower abdomen

  • Fever

  • Vaginal discharge that may smell foul

  • Painful Sex

  • Pain with urination

  • Irregular Menstrual Periods

  • Pain in the upper right abdomen


HOW CAN I PREVENT PID?

You may not be able to prevent PID. It is NOT always caused by an STI. Sometimes, normal bacteria in your vagina can travel up to your reproductive organs and cause PID. But you can lower your risk of PID by not douching. You can also prevent STIs by not having vaginal, oral, or anal sex.


If you DO have sex, LOWER your risk of getting an STI with the following steps:

  • Use condoms.

  • Get tested.

  • Be monogamous.

  • Do not douche.

  • Do not abuse alcohol or drugs.


HOW IS PID TREATED?

Your doctor or nurse will give you antibiotics to treat PID. Most of the time, at least two antibiotics are used that work against many different types of bacteria. You must take all of your antibiotics, even if your symptoms go away. This helps to make sure the infection is fully cured. See your doctor or nurse again two to three days after starting antibiotics to make sure they are working.


WHAT HAPPENS IF PID IS NOT TREATED?

Without treatment, PID can lead to serious problems like infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain (pain that does not go away). If you think you may have PID, see a doctor or nurse as soon as possible. Antibiotics will treat PID, but they will not treat any permanent damage done to your internal organs.



Resource:

Office On Women’s Health


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