Pelvic Inflammation Disease (PID) is defined as condition caused by inflammation or infection of the female uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries as a result of scars and adhesion in the pelvic which in turn may prevent the implantation of egg during natural pregnancy process. It affects over 1 million women in U.S. every month and most of them are in their teen and twenties and over 100,000 women become infertile in the US alone each year.
I. Symptoms of (PID)
1. Fever - It is due to infection or inflammation of the pelvic region.
2. Cervical motion tenderness - Caused by swelling of cervical inflammation area as a immune system reaction.
3. Lower abdominal pain - It is caused by sexual transmitted diseases Chlamydia pneumoniae that infect the pelvic tissues and immune responds.
4. Abnormal discharge - Due to immune system in fighting with the bacteria to protect the pelvic tissues.
5. Painful intercourse - As a result of some infected tissues have been damaged.
6. Irregular menstrual bleeding - Caused by bleeding of the infected area.
II. Causes of PID
1. Sexual transmitted diseases - Chlamydia is also known as Chlamydia pneumoniae, it is a type of organism causes sexual transmitting disease. In women, it may damage the Fallopian tube leading to infertility. Sexual transmitted disease happens most often to sexual active women with several partners and without understanding much of the partner's health and condition. The diseases can also transmit through sexual intercourse without the use of a barrier device such as condom. Chlamydia can live in the body for months and years without causing any symptoms, but when it strikes the symptoms include:
a) Pain or burning when urinating
b) Abnormal vaginal discharge
c) Bleeding between periods
d) Pain during sexual intercourse as we mentioned above.
2. Virus - It may be caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
3. Fungi - It causes infection, low levels of estrogen or allergy and abnormal vagina discharge. In case of frequent vaginitis, it is caused by women who are taking birth control pills, or taking antibiotics, as antibiotics kill bacteria, it causes uncontrolled yeast growth). Fungi can also be contracted through sexual intercourse.
4. Parasitic - PID is caused by a tiny parasite, known as trichomonas vaginalis.
5. Bacterial infections - Bacteria (germs) get into a woman's internal reproductive organs such as douching or when the cervix is opened due to menstruation or ovulation for sperm invasion.
6. Surgery - Surgeries such as C section, abortion, childbirth or insertion of an IUD may cause bacteria getting into the pelvic region, leading to infection resulting in scars in the region.
7. Cervicitis - Cervicitis is defined as a medical condition caused by inflammation or infection to the cervix, leading to abnormal production of cervical mucus and increasing the risk of infertility
III. Affects of PID
1. Chronic pelvic pain - Pelvic inflammatory disease often causes pelvic pain, it can lead to chronic pelvic pain if left untreated for too long as a result of scars building up in the pelvic region.
2. Infertility - If the scar covers a large portion of the uterus that disrupts the chance of egg to implant in the uterus or blocks the Fallopian tube, causing fertilization egg unable to travel down to the uterus for implantation.
3. Ectopic pregnancy - As a result of the end of Follopian tube that connects to the ovaries becoming partially or completely blocked due to forming of scars after infection.
IV. Treatment of PID in conventional medicine perspective
PID have to be cured early by antibiotics, otherwise it may cause forming of large scars in the pelvic region, leading to blockage at the end of Fallopian tube that affects the uterus in egg implantation.
V. Summary
1. PID can be prevented if a woman
a) Uses a condom
b) Abstains from sexual intercourse
c) Avoids douching
2. Early treatment
Sexually active women must check with her doctor, if some of above symptoms are found.
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