Pelvic inflammatory disease is a disease that should be known to every female. Health specialists, however, claim it may not display signs and symptoms at times, but it is hazardous and may result in infertility or worse
Dr Raoul Kabadi Gizenga at Hopital La Croix du Sud (HCS), Remera says, “pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is simply an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs including the uterus, cervix, ovaries and the Fallopian tubes. PID is caused by bacteria from sexual transmitted infections.”
Dr. Iba Mayele, an obstetrician gynecologist at Galien Clinic, Kimironko, describes that when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from the vagina to the womb, pelvic inflammatory illness happens.
He says,” many types of bacteria can cause PID but gonorrhea or chlamydia infection are the most common; these microbes can enter the reproductive tract anytime the barrier created by the cervix is disturbed. This can happen after childbirth, miscarriage or abortion.”
Mayele stresses that PID can be caused by several distinct kinds of bacteria, including the same bacteria causing sexually borne diseases (STIs), gonorrhea and chlamydia.
RISK FACTORS
Gizenga describes that someone who has previously had an STI, boys who have sex before the age of 25, intercourse with more than one partner, a partner with other sexual partners, or unprotected sex, are at greater danger of PID.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
“Many women may not know they have PID due to lack of signs or symptoms, but whenever someone experiences a heavy vaginal discharge with a bad smell, painful sex, pain in the lower abdomen or painful urination, it is evident that the person could be having PID,” he says.
Mayele states that abnormal uterine bleeding may be an indication of PID, particularly during or after intercourse, or between menstrual cycles, pain or bleeding during intercourse.
WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR
”If a person is having severe pain in the lower abdomen, nausea and vomiting, fever, with a temperature higher than 101 F (38.3 C), a foul vaginal discharge, painful urination or bleeding between menstrual cycles—which can be associated with a sexually transmitted infection, it is advisable to see the doctor,” Mayele says.
COMPLICATIONS
Gizenga notes that PID can harm reproductive organs and trigger infertility, can lead to an Ectopic pregnancy, where the PID scar tissue prohibits the fertilized egg from implanting into the uterus through the Fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancies can cause huge, serious bleeding and require medical attention in emergency situations.
He adds that PID may cause a sore (a collection of pus may be formed in the uterine tube and ovaries), which may lead to an infection if therapy is delayed.
PREVENTION
“Practice safe sex, have only one sexual partner, if you have pelvic inflammatory disease or an STI, advise your partner to be tested to prevent the spread of STI. If anyone is at risk of an STI, such as chlamydia, make an appointment with your doctor for testing because early treatment of an STI gives you the best chance of avoiding PID. Talk to your doctor about the proper contraception safe to use,” Mayele states.
TREATMENT
“To prevent reinfection with an STI, your sexual partner or partners should be examined and treated. Infected partners might not have any noticeable symptoms, avoid sexual intercourse until treatment is completed and tests indicate that the infection has cleared in your partner,” Mayele notes
He adds that surgery is not prevalent, but if they do not react to antibiotic therapy or if one or more of the signs or symptoms of PID are present, one might need it.
Gizenga suggests that diagnosis can be through blood and urine exams, ultrasound (this test uses sound waves to produce pictures of your reproductive bodies), or laparoscopy (physician inserts a slender, lighted tool through a tiny incision into the abdomen to view pelvic bodies).