Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the upper female reproductive tract - the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. It most commonly develops when an untreated STI, particularly chlamydia or gonorrhoea, spreads from the lower genital tract upward.
PID may cause lower abdominal or pelvic pain, pain during sex, unusual discharge, irregular bleeding or fever, but it can also be mild or silent. Left untreated, it can lead to serious complications including chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and infertility from scarring of the fallopian tubes.
Because early treatment protects fertility, PID should be assessed and treated promptly by a clinician. Seek urgent medical care for severe lower abdominal pain, high fever, or feeling very unwell, as these can signal a serious infection. Preventing and promptly treating chlamydia and gonorrhoea through regular testing is the best way to avoid PID - see a licensed doctor for diagnosis and treatment.