Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a condition that affects the female upper genital tract including the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries. It is often a complication of an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI). PID usually develops when an STI like gonorrhea or chlamydia is left untreated and develops into a bacterial infection. PID can cause chronic abdominal pain. Those who suffer from the disease often become infertile.
Symptoms of PID include pain during intercourse, abnormal vaginal discharge, fever, and lower abdominal pain. The likelihood of developing PID is substantially increased if the patient has previously had PID. When PID is left untreated or if it is not diagnosed early enough, it can result in infertility and irreversible damage to the reproductive organs. Treatments are available and, as with many treatable diseases, treatments are most effective when the disease is caught early.
