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Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of a woman's pelvic organs. The pelvic organs include the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (fuh-LOH-pee-uhn toobs), ovaries, and cervix.
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.
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 PID if you:
Many women don't know they have PID because they don't have any symptoms. For women who have them, symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common symptom of PID is pain in your lower abdomen (stomach area). Other symptoms include:
PID can come on fast with extreme pain and fever, especially if it’s caused by gonorrhea.
If you think that you may have PID, see a doctor right away. If you have pain in your lower abdomen (stomach area), your doctor will perform a physical exam. This will include a pelvic (internal) exam. Your doctor will check for:
Your doctor will also test you for STIs, including HIV and syphilis (SI-fuh-luhs), urinary tract infection, and if needed, pregnancy. If needed, your doctor may do other tests.
These tests will help your doctor find out if you have PID, or if you have a different problem that looks like PID.
PID can be cured with antibiotics (drugs that kill bacteria). Most of the time, at least two antibiotics are used that work against a wide range of bacteria. Your doctor will work with you to find the best treatment for you. You must take all your medicine, even if your symptoms go away. This helps to make sure your infection is fully cured. You should see your doctor again 2 to 3 days after starting treatment to make sure the antibiotics are working.
Without treatment, PID can lead to severe problems like infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain.
Any damage done to your pelvic organs before you start treatment likely cannot be undone. Still, don't put off getting treatment. If you do, you may not be able to have children. If you think you may have PID, see a doctor right away.
Your doctor may suggest going into the hospital to treat your PID if you:
If you still have symptoms or if the abscess doesn't go away after treatment, you may need surgery. Problems caused by PID, such as constant pelvic pain and scarring, are often hard to treat. But, sometimes they get better after surgery.
Even if your sex partner doesn't have any symptoms, she or he could still be infected with bacteria that can cause PID. Take steps to protect yourself from being infected again.
The more times you have PID, the more likely it is that you won't be able to get pregnant. When you have PID, bacteria infect the tubes or cause inflammation of the tubes. This turns normal tissue into scar tissue. Scar tissue can block your tubes and make it harder to get pregnant. Even having just a little scar tissue can keep you from getting pregnant without infertility treatment.
PID is most often caused by an STI that hasn't been treated. You can keep from getting PID by not getting an STI.
If you think you may have an STI, see a doctor right away. You may feel scared or shy about asking for information or help. Keep in mind, the sooner you seek treatment, the less likely the STI will cause you severe harm. And the sooner you tell your sex partner(s) that you have an STI, the less likely they are to infect you again or spread the disease to others.
To learn about STIs or get tested, contact your doctor, local health department, or an STI and family planning clinic. The American Social Health Association (ASHA) keeps lists of clinics and doctors who provide treatment for STIs. Call ASHA at 800-227-8922. You can get information from the phone line without leaving your name.
For more information about pelvic inflammatory disease, call womenshealth.gov at 800-994-9662 (TDD: 888-220-5446) or contact the following organizations:
Pelvic inflammatory disease fact sheet was reviewed by:
Dr. Songhai Barclift, M.D.
Lieutenant Commander
HIV/AIDS Bureau
Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Content last updated July 16, 2012.
Resources last updated May 18, 2010.
A federal government website managed by the
Office on Women's Health
in the
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
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