Pelvic inflammatory disease
It is an infection that affects the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and adjacent organs in the pelvic region such as the intestine.
Symptoms include lower abdominal pain, often bilateral, with fever and malodorant vaginal discharge.
Sexually transmitted germs are the main cause of inflammatory pelvic disease. Chlamydia is the most common cause, as we find it in 50% of cases. Gonorrhea is also common. However, in about 20% of patients there is no cause.
Doctors base their diagnosis on medical history. They also do a physical examination, blood tests and smears, taken from the vagina and cervix. The vaginal ultrasound is very important and helpful. It can show pus collection.
Treatment includes administration of multiple antibiotics. If the patient does not respond, the gynecologist often decides to proceed to laparoscopy.
