Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

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Original Author(s): Abina

Last updated: 22nd December 2017
Revisions: 14

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the upper genital tract in females, which a ects the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

It is a relatively common condition, with a diagnosis rate in primary care of approximately 280/100,000 person-years. It has the highest prevalence
in sexually active women aged 15 to 24.

In this article we shall look at the pathophysiology, clinical features and management of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Pathophysiology
Pelvic inflammatory disease refers to an infective inflammation of the endometrium, uterus, fallopian tubes (salpingitis), ovaries and peritoneum. It is
caused by the spread of bacterial infection from the vagina or cervix to the upper genital tract.

Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea are responsible for approximately 25% of cases, with other bacteria such as Streptococcus, bacteriodes
and anaerobes also implicated.

© By Blausen.com [CC BY 3.0]

Fig 1 – Pelvic inflammatory disease refers to infection of the upper female genital tract.

Risk Factors
The risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease include:

Sexually active

Aged under 15-24

Recent partner change

Intercourse without barrier contraceptive protection

History of STIs

Personal history of pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease can also occur via instrumentation of the cervix – inadvertently introducing bacteria into the female reproductive tract.
Such procedures include gynaecological surgery, termination of pregnancy, and insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device.

Clinical Features
The signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease are elicited from the medical and sexual history, and a gynaecological examination. Whilst it can
be asymptomatic, symptoms include:
 Lower abdominal pain

Deep dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse)

Menstrual abnormalities (e.g menorrhagia, dysmenorrhoea or intermenstrual bleeding)

Post-coital bleeding

Dysuria (painful urination)

Abnormal vaginal discharge (especially if purulent or with an unpleasant odour)

In advanced cases, women can experience severe lower abdominal pain, fever (>38° C), and nausea and vomiting.

On vaginal examination, there may be tenderness of uterus/adnexae or cervical excitation (on bimanual palpation). There may be a palpable mass in
the lower abdomen, with an abnormal vaginal discharge noted.

© By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2020)

Fig 2 – Mucopurulent cervical discharge, a feature of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Di erential Diagnosis
The di erential diagnoses for pelvic inflammatory disease include:

Ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy test is mandatory to exclude this).

Ruptured ovarian cyst

Endometriosis

Urinary tract infection

Investigations
The initial investigations in suspected pelvic inflammatory disease involves identifying the infective organism.

Endocervical swabs should be taken to test for gonorrhea and chlamydia, and a high vaginal swab for trichomonas vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis. In
the UK, testing is via nucleic acid amplification (NAAT). Negative swabs do not exclude the diagnosis.

Further investigations include:

Full STI screen – (HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and Chlamydia as a minimum) should be o ered to all women with PID.

Urine dipstick +/- MSU – to exclude urinary tract infection.

Pregnancy test – to exclude pregnancy.

Transvaginal ultrasound scan – if there is severe disease or diagnostic uncertainty.

Laparoscopy – used to observe gross inflammatory changes, and to obtain a peritoneal biopsy. This is indicated only in severe cases where there is
diagnostic uncertainty.
 © By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2020)

Fig 3 – Neisseria gonorrhoea can also be identified on microscopy, with a diplococci shape.

Management
The mainstay in the management of pelvic inflammatory disease is antibiotic therapy.

Treatment is a 14-day course of broad spectrum antibiotics with good anaerobic coverage. This should be commenced immediately, before the results
of swabs are available. Options include:

Doxycycline, ceftriaxone and metronidazole

Ofloxacin and metronidazole

Analgesics such as paracetamol should be considered. The patient should be advised to rest, and avoid sexual intercourse until the antibiotic course is
complete and partner(s) are treated. All sexual partners from the last 6 months should be tested and treated to prevent recurrence and spread
of infection.

There are some situations in which women should be admitted to hospital:

If pregnant and especially if there is a risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Severe symptoms: nausea, vomiting, high fever.

Signs of pelvic peritonitis.

Unresponsive to oral antibiotics, need for IV therapy.

Need for emergency surgery or suspicion of alternative diagnosis.

Complications
Delaying treatment or having repeated episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease (recurrent PID) can increase risks of serious and long term
complications:

Ectopic pregnancy – due to narrowing and scarring of the fallopian tubes

Infertility – a ects 1 in 10 women with PID.

Tubo-ovarian abscess

Chronic pelvic pain

Fitz-Hugh Curtis syndrome – perihepatitis that typically causes right upper quadrant pain
© By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2020)

Fig 4 – Perihepatic adhesions observed on laparoscopy – a complication of PID.

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Points to Consider
Patients should be o ered advice regarding the practice of safer sex and consistent use of condoms.

Regular STI screening should be encouraged.

Patients should be informed about the potential long-term sequelae of PID.