Pelvic inflammatory disease

Description

An infection of the reproductive organs of people assigned female at birth. These organs include the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Overview

An infection with germs causes pelvic inflammatory disease. Most often, the germs spread through sex without a condom. Sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can lead to the disease.

Symptoms

Pelvic inflammatory disease symptoms can include pain in the lower belly and pelvis, heavy vaginal discharge, bleeding from the vagina between periods, pain during sex, fever, and pain while urinating.

Treatments

Pelvic inflammatory disease treatment includes medicine called antibiotics to get rid of the infection. Rarely, surgery is needed. An infected person's partner also needs to be tested and treated.