Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

PID describes an infection of the upper genital female tract, which can include any of the structures between the ovary to the cervix. This would include an infection of the ovary (called "oophoritis"), infection of the fallopian tube (="salpingitis"), infection of the uterus inside (="endometritis")and infection of the cervical canal (="cervicitis").The common bacteria that cause these infections belong into the venereal disease category as PID commonly is sexually transmitted.

On top of the causes is Neisseria gonorrhea, the bacterium responsible for gonorrhea. The other common cause is Chlamydia trachomatis.

Symptoms:

PID symptoms are a fever and lower abdominal pain. There might be a vaginal discharge and some period like bleeding between periods. The symptoms may involve abdominal pain, particularly when the fallopian tube or the ovary is involved in the infection.

This is common with gonorrhea, which very quickly can destroy the normal tissue and lead to a pelvic abscess and peritonitis. Often it leaves severe scarring behind and frequently it affects both sides. With cervicitis there is bleeding on sexual contact. A purulent discharge is evident, particularly when the doctor examines the patient. Salpingitis starts shortly after the woman's period with lower abdominal pain. When the cervix is moved when the doctor examines the patient, there is tenderness of the affected side. The clinical presentation can be very similar in symptoms to acute appendicitis and pose a diagnostic problem on the right side. If in doubt the specialist will organize a laparoscopy for diagnostic purposes.As one of the lasting effects of PID is infertility through scarring of both fallopian tubes, prompt diagnosis and treatment have to be instituted.

Treatment of PID:

Antibiotic therapy is immediately started, usually intravenously. This is carried on until the patient has been without a fever (=afebrile) for 24 hours. Then oral antibiotics are carried on for as long as the doctor orders. An abscess has to be drained by the gynecologist by one of the approaches (transvaginal or percutaneous) under ultrasound guidance. The sexual partner(s) of the patient should also be treated.

There is an FDA approved non-drug method available, IceWave patches from Lifewave, which will control pain. When there is chronic pain from PID due to scarring these pain patches could be used (not indicated for pain in acute surgical cases). This is mentioned in the book "Breakthrough" by Suzanne Somers (Ref. 9) where newer insights of antiaging medicine are also reviewed. Although the patches are placed over acupuncture points, there are no needles involved. Nanotechnology, a newer technology, was used in the manufacturing of these patches and infrared (heat) waves from body heat are utilized to stimulate an acupuncture point, which modifies pain perception and reduces pain to half or less. Medically this would be considered an excellent pain reliever. For more info on the patches see the IceWave patches from Lifewave link above (click "products"). In the US a 5 pack of the IceWave spray is available that can be directly sprayed onto the skin in the area where the pain is located.

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Disclaimer:

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References:

1. DM Thompson: The 46th Annual St. Paul's Hospital CME Conference for Primary Physicians, Nov. 14-17, 2000, Vancouver/B.C./Canada

2. C Ritenbaugh Curr Oncol Rep 2000 May 2(3): 225-233.

3. PA Totten et al. J Infect Dis 2001 Jan 183(2): 269-276.

4. M Ohkawa et al. Br J Urol 1993 Dec 72(6):918-921.

9. Suzanne Somers: "Breakthrough" Eight Steps to Wellness-- Life-altering Secrets from Today's Cutting-edge Doctors", Crown Publishers, 2008

Last Modified: June 18, 2009