Pelvic Inflamatory Disease

There are several ways women can get PID. The most common way is by having sex with a person who has gonorrhea or chlamydia. Your doctor can only diagnose PID by doing a pelvic exam, and swabbing the area and having the sample tested. The sooner you see your family doctor, the better. Waiting even 1 or 2 days can allow the infection to spread and cause more pain and damage. There is no over-the-counter treatment for PID. Usually, PID can be cured with antibiotics. Most women can have outpatient treatment. If you are treated as an outpatient, you must take your medicine just the way your doctor tells you to. If you don’t take all the pills, your symptoms will get worse and you may have to go to the hospital. A few days after you start taking the medicine, your doctor will want to see you for a checkup. Hospitalization may be recommended if you are very sick with PID, or if you are pregnant, under the age of 18 or have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). If you are treated for PID, especially if it’s caused by an STD, your partner must also be treated. Unless your partner is treated, you may be infected again. Making good choices about sexual contact is important. If you think you might have PID, talk to your family doctor right away.

~Tiffany~