What is PID? Is it an STD?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of a woman’s internal reproductive system that can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pain, especially if untreated. It’s not a sexually transmitted infection, but it’s often caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections — most commonly, gonorrhea and chlamydia. That’s one of the reasons routine gynecological checkups are important for sexually active women.
Only a health care provider can diagnose PID, but some common symptoms include
- fever and chills
- nausea and vomiting
- pain during intercourse
- pain in the lower abdomen
- spotting and pain between periods or during urination
- unusually long or painful periods and unusual vaginal discharge
Latex and internal condoms greatly reduce the risk of getting the infections commonly associated with PID.
Tags: STDs, pelvic inflammatory disease, PID