Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Alternative names:

oophoritis; PID; salpingitis; salpingo-oophoritis; salpingo-peritonitis

Symptoms:

• vaginal discharge
  • with abnormal color, consistency, or odor

• irregular menstrual bleeding or spotting
• increased menstrual cramping
• menstruation, absent
• increased pain during ovulation
• sexual intercourse, painful
• bleeding after intercourse
• fever
  • may range from transient to constant
  • low grade to high

• chills
• abdominal pain either localized or generalized
• back pain, low
• fatigue
• lack of appetite
• nausea, with or without vomiting
• frequent urination
• pain with urination
• point tenderness

Signs and tests:

A general examination may reveal enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area (inguinal), fever, and abdominal tenderness. Pelvic examination may reveal cervical discharge, cervical tenderness, a friable cervix (one that bleeds easily), uterine tenderness, or adnexal (ovarian) tenderness.

Tests include:

• a WBC
• an ESR (sed rate)
• a wet prep or wet mount microscopic examination
• a serum HCG (pregnancy test)
• an endocervical culture for gonorrhea, Chlamydia, other organisms
• a laparoscopy (may be needed)