What is pelvic inflammatory disease? What causes it, and what are its dangers?
A. An estimated 1 million women a year contract pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the upper genital tract. It is the most common and most serious complication associated with STDs in women. PID results when infections of the vagina or cervix, particularly gonorrhea and chlamydia, spread upward into the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes or adjacent organs. It also can be caused by the insertion of IUDs, an induced abortion, or other procedures where instruments are inserted through the cervix into the uterus. PID symptoms often include lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, fever, pain during intercourse and irregular menstrual bleeding. PID associated with chlamydial infection may produce mild symptoms, however, or no symptoms at all. Untreated, PID can be very dangerous, leading to infertility, tubal (ectopic) pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain and recurrent infection. A course of antibiotic medication is usually prescribed to treat PID. Severe infections may require hos
