Pelvic inflammation or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs, such as the cervix, uterus, and ovaries. One of the most common causes of pelvic inflammatory disease is a bacterial infection due to a sexually transmitted infection.
Pelvic inflammation is generally experienced by women aged 15-25 years who are sexually active. Pelvic inflammation can be characterized by pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen. This condition needs to be treated to prevent complications, such as pregnancy outside the womb (ectopic) or infertility (infertility).
Causes of Pelvic Inflammation
Pelvic inflammation is most often caused by a bacterial infection that spreads from the vagina or cervix to the deeper reproductive organs, such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
The types of bacteria that often cause pelvic inflammation are bacteria that cause sexually transmitted infections, such as: Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In addition to bacteria, pelvic inflammation can also be caused by other pathogenic infections, such as: Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis, Garnella vaginalis, or Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2).
In addition, there are a number of factors that can increase a woman's risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, namely:
- 15–25 years old and sexually active
- Have had pelvic inflammatory disease or sexually transmitted infections
- Having sex with multiple partners
- Having sex without a condom
- Damage to the cervix, including due to unsafe abortion
- Recent medical procedures that involve opening the cervix, such as inserting a contraceptive device into the uterus or spirals
Symptoms of Pelvic Inflammation
In the early stages, pelvic inflammation generally does not cause symptoms, so some sufferers do not notice it immediately. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms will appear:
- Pelvic or lower abdominal pain
- Pain when urinating
- Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
- Bleeding outside of menstruation or after sexual intercourse
- Menstruation becomes heavier and longer (menorrhagia)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Easy to feel tired or not feeling well
- Vaginal discharge becomes more abundant, smells bad, and changes color to yellowish or greenish
When to go to the doctor
Check with your doctor if you experience the symptoms mentioned above. A doctor's examination is needed so that the condition can be treated immediately so as to prevent complications.
Immediately consult a doctor if your symptoms do not go away or get worse. Delaying seeing a doctor can increase the risk of complications.
Check with your doctor regularly if you have a risk of pelvic inflammation, such as having had a sexually transmitted infection or frequently changing sexual partners.
Pelvic Inflammation Diagnosis
The doctor will ask the patient's complaints and symptoms, as well as his medical history. The doctor will also ask the patient's history of sexual activity.
Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination to see if there is swelling or tenderness in the vaginal and cervical areas. This examination also aims to see if there is any unusual vaginal discharge.
Liquid sampling via swab test (swabs) Vaginal or cervical can be done to detect the presence of bacterial infection and the type of bacteria from the sample taken. However, a positive result from this test does not always indicate a person has pelvic inflammatory disease.
Therefore, doctors need to carry out a number of other supporting tests to confirm the diagnosis. The inspection includes:
- Blood test, to detect the presence or absence of infection in the body
- Urine test, to detect the presence or absence of infections in the urinary tract, including sexually transmitted infections
- Ultrasonography (USG), to assess the presence or absence of abnormalities in the reproductive organs
- Laparoscopy, to see the condition of the internal reproductive organs by inserting a micro camera through small surgery on the abdomen
- Uterine biopsy, to detect abnormalities in uterine wall tissue samples
Pelvic Inflammation Treatment
Treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease aims to treat the infection, relieve symptoms, prevent the spread of infection, and prevent complications. Here are the treatment steps that can be taken:
Drugs
To overcome pelvic inflammation, drug administration will be adjusted to the patient's condition. If it is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotic drugs need to be taken according to the rules suggested by the doctor. Generally antibiotics need to be taken by the patient for 2 weeks.
In conditions of severe pelvic inflammation, pregnancy, or the presence of an abscess (accumulation of pus), hospital treatment and administration of antibiotics by injection and intravenous fluids will be given by a doctor.
In addition to antibiotics, the doctor will give drugs to reduce complaints, such as pain and fever. Some drugs that can be given are ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Operation
The surgical procedure is carried out if an abscess occurs in pelvic inflammation. In addition, surgery is also performed if the abscess ruptures or has the potential to burst. The operation can be done by sucking, draining, and cleaning the abscess fluid.
Not having sex
Patients are advised not to have sexual intercourse during the treatment period to prevent transmission of the disease to partners.
In addition, the patient's sexual partner is also advised to have an examination even if he does not experience symptoms of the disease. The goal is the same, namely to prevent the potential for repeated transmission.
Pelvic Inflammation Complications
If not treated immediately, pelvic inflammation can lead to various complications, including:
- Infertility or infertility
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Abscess occurs in the ovary or fallopian tube
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Sepsis
Pelvic Inflammation Prevention
There are several things that can be done to prevent pelvic inflammation, namely:
- Do not have sex with multiple partners.
- Use a condom during sexual intercourse.
- Regular health checks if you are at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection.
- Consult options and plans to use contraception with your doctor.
- Clean the pubic area from front to back and not vice versa.
If you suffer from pelvic inflammation, you are encouraged to invite your partner to participate in the examination. This is necessary to prevent recurrence of infection and pelvic inflammation.