Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
The Facts

Protect Yourself + Protect Your Partner

Photo of woman

The Facts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a serious complication
of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
• PID is a general name for infections of the womb, ovaries,
and fallopian tubes.
• PID is common. Women can get PID if they have an STD
(like chlamydia [cla MI dee a] or gonorrhea [gon a REE a])
that isn’t treated.
• PID can be treated, and being treated promptly may reduce
your chance of having complications from PID.

How can I lower my risk for PID?
• To prevent PID, avoid getting an STD.
• If you do have an STD, see a doctor and get it treated
right away.
• The surest way to avoid getting an STD is not to have
sex, or to have sex only with someone who’s not infected
and who has sex only with you.
• Condoms can reduce your risk of getting some STDs if
they are used the right way every single time you have sex.
• Washing the genitals, urinating, or douching after sex will
not prevent any STD.

Photo of couple

Photo of woman

How can I find out if I have PID?
There’s no test for PID. Usually, a doctor
will decide if you have it from your
symptoms. The doctor can examine
you and give you a test for chlamydia
or gonorrhea. These common STDs
often cause PID.

How do women get PID?

• PID is a complication of some STDs. You can get an STD by
having sex with an infected partner.
• If you don’t treat the STD infection, it can spread. PID occurs
when the infection gets into the womb and other organs that
enable a woman to have children.
• Women who douche may have a higher risk of getting PID than
women who do not douche. This is because douching causes
harmful changes in the healthy bacteria that live in the vagina.

Who’s at risk for PID?
• Sexually active women of childbearing age are most at risk for
PID. The more sex partners a woman has, the higher her risk of
getting PID.
• Women who are 25 or younger are more likely to get PID than
those older than 25.
• Women who douche may be at higher risk for PID than women
who don’t douche.

What are the symptoms of PID?

Very often, women (and their doctors) don’t realize that they have
PID because the symptoms may be mild. Some women, however,
have severe symptoms. You might notice:
• Pain in the lower abdomen.
• Fever.
• An unusual discharge from your vagina, with a bad odor.
• Pain when you have sexual intercourse.
• Bleeding between periods.
When should I be examined?
You should be examined by a doctor if:
• You have any symptoms (like pain when you have sex or a
smelly discharge from your vagina).
• You have bleeding between periods.
• Your partner has chlamydia, gonorrhea, or another STD.
• Your partner has symptoms that might be an STD (like burning
or itching when passing urine or an unusual discharge).

How is PID treated?
• If PID is caught early, it can be treated effectively with
antibiotics.
• Finish all of the medicine to be sure you are cured.
• Do not share your medicine with anyone. You need all of it.
• If you still have symptoms after treatment, go back to see your
doctor.

Can I get PID again after I’ve been treated?
Yes, you can get PID again if you are infected with
an STD again. If you’ve had PID before, you have
a higher chance of getting it again.

What happens if I don’t get treated?
• PID can cause scar tissue in the womb and other reproductive
organs.
• The longer you delay treatment for PID, or the more times you get
PID, the more likely it is that you won’t be able to get pregnant.
• After having PID, women who do get pregnant are more likely
to have an ectopic pregnancy, where the egg grows outside the
womb. This can cause severe pain, bleeding inside your body,
and even death.
• PID can also cause chronic pain in the pelvic area.

If I have PID, what does that mean for my partner?
• Your partner may have an STD.
• Be sure to tell your recent sex partners, so they can get tested
and treated for STDs.
• Avoid having sex until you’ve both finished your treatment, so
you don’t re-infect each other.

A message for everyone
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER.
Always see a doctor if your partner is being treated for an STD. Also
see the doctor if you or your sex partner notice any symptoms, such
as an unusual discharge.
If you have one STD, you should be tested for others. Be sure to tell
your recent sex partners, so they can get tested too. Talk openly and
honestly with your partner about STDs.
For more information
• Talk with your doctor.
• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
• Visit www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm.
CDC Publication No. 99-8827