HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Matenga whakawaikura papatoiake
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of your womb, fallopian tubes or ovaries. It happens when bacteria spread from your vagina or cervix.
PID is usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea. It can also happen after surgery, pregnancy or having an IUD or IUS fitted.
PID can cause pelvic or lower tummy pain, pain during sex, vaginal discharge and sometimes fever or abnormal bleeding. If you have any of these symptoms, see your general practice team and ask to be tested.
PID is treated with antibiotics. If it is not treated early, it can lead to infertility or an ectopic pregnancy (a baby growing outside the womb) as well as long-term pelvic pain.
Your sexual partner may need to be treated at the same time.
Using a condom every time you have sex is the best way to protect yourself from getting an infection that can lead to PID.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Healthify He Puna Wairoa – Pelvic inflammatory disease
Information about pelvic inflammatory disease, including causes, symptoms and treatment.
- Just the Facts – Pelvic inflammatory disease
More information about pelvic inflammatory disease.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed June 2022.
SourcesReview key: HISYP-53679
