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In this Article

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) facts*
• What is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
• What causes pelvic inflammatory disease?
• How common is pelvic inflammatory disease?
• Are some women more likely to get pelvic inflammatory disease?
• What are the signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease?
• How is pelvic inflammatory disease diagnosed?
• How is pelvic inflammatory disease treated?
• What if my partner is infected with pelvic inflammatory disease?
• Can pelvic inflammatory disease cause infertility?
• How can pelvic inflammatory disease be prevented?
• What should I do if I think I have an STI (sexually transmitted disease)?
• Patient Comments: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Treatments
• Patient Comments: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Symptoms
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Index

A woman can get PID if bacteria (germs) move up from her vagina and infect her pelvic organs. Many different types of bacteria can cause PID. But, most cases of PID are caused by bacteria that cause 2 common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — gonorrhea (gah-nuh-REE-uh) and chlamydia (kluh-MI-dee-uh). It can take from a few days to a few months for an infection to travel up from the vagina to the pelvic organs.

You can get PID without having an STI. Normal bacteria found in the vagina and on the cervix can sometimes cause PID. No one is sure why this happens.

You can get pelvic inflammatory disease without having an STI. Normal bacteria found in the vagina and on the cervix can sometimes cause pelvic inflammatory disease. No one is sure why this happens.

Each year in the United States, more than 1 million women have an episode of PID. More than 100,000 women become infertile each year because of PID. Also, many ectopic pregnancies that occur are due to problems from PID.

Yes. You're more likely to get pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if you:

• Have had an STI
  
  
• Are under 25 years of age and are having sex
  
  
• Have more than 1 sex partner
  
  
• Douche. Douching can push bacteria into the pelvic organs and cause infection. It can also hide the signs of an infection.
  
  
• Have an intrauterine device (IUD). You should get tested and treated for any infections before getting an IUD. This will lower your risk of getting pelvic inflammatory disease.