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Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - Overview

Alternative Names

PID; Oophoritis; Salpingitis; Salpingo-oophoritis; Salpingo-peritonitis

Definition of Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID):

Pelvic inflammatory disease is a general term for infection of the uterus lining, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Most cases of pelvic inflammatory disease are caused by bacteria that move from the vagina or cervix into the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, or pelvis.

The most common cause of PID is sexual contact without using a condom or other protection. This is called a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two bacteria that cause most cases of PID.

However, bacteria may also enter the body during some surgical or office procedures, such as:

Childbirth
Endometrial biopsy
Insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD)
Miscarriage
Therapeutic or elective abortion

In the United States, nearly 1 million women develop PID each year. About 1 in 8 sexually active adolescent girls will develop PID before age 20.

Risk factors include:

Male sexual partner with gonorrhea or chlamydia
Multiple sexual partners
Past history of any sexually transmitted disease
Past history of PID
Recent insertion of an IUD
Sexual activity during adolescence

Pelvic laparoscopy

Female reproductive anatomy

Endometritis

Uterus

Reviewed last on: 9/2/2009
Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Facility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Update to sexually transmitted diseases guidelines, 2006: fluoroquinolones no longer recommended for treatment of gonococcal infections. MMWR. 2007;56:332-336.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for gonorrhea: recommendation statement. Am Fam Physician. 2005;72:1783-1786.

Meyers D, Wolff T, Gregory K, et al. USPSTF recommendations for STI screening. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77:819-824.

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