Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is a common condition that only affects women or people with a female reproductive system. It happens when bacteria spreads from the vagina or cervix (the neck of the womb) up to your womb, ovaries and fallopian tubes (the tubes that connect your womb to your ovaries). 

It is not an STI (sexually transmitted infection) but it is sometimes triggered by one. 

It can affect the uterus (womb) or create abscesses (pockets of infected fluid) in your ovaries and fallopian tubes. 

If you have PID you won’t always get symptoms. If you do, they may include: 

  • vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex 
  • pain when you pee
  • pain in your lower abdomen (tummy) or pelvis, especially when you have sex 
  • heavy or more painful periods
  • an unusual vaginal discharge that might be green or yellow and smells unpleasant 

A small number of people will get more ill with a high temperature, bad tummy pain and feeling or being sick.

If you get these symptoms, it’s a good idea to get checked out for your peace of mind even if you do not think you have PID. 

You can: 

If you have severe tummy or pelvic pain go straight to A&E.

Lots of types of bacteria can cause PID. We all have micro-organisms present in our bodies, but they’re often found at higher levels in women who have bacterial vaginosis (BV),  which makes them more likely to get PID. 

An STI caused by bacteria, such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, is the main cause of the infection in about a quarter of women with PID. Men cannot get PID, but they can spread the bacteria that cause it, through sex.

The bacteria that cause PID, can sometimes be caught by having sex without a condom. This is true no matter what kind of sex you have and whether you have sex with women or men. Unprotected vaginal or anal sex puts you most at risk, though. 

You are also at higher risk of PID if you: 

  • have more than one sexual partner 
  • have a new sexual partner (unless you have both had a clear STI test)   
  • have had an STI before
  • have had PID before 
  • are under 25 
  • started having sex at a young age 
  • have had damage to your cervix after giving birth or a miscarriage 
  • have had any procedure that meant opening your cervix such as an abortion or an intrauterine device (IUD) fitting

There is no set test, but a doctor or nurse can diagnose you after hearing about your symptoms and giving you a vaginal or pelvic exam. 

Swabs will also be taken from your vagina and cervix for testing. This is to check for signs of an infection and to try to work out which bacteria could be causing the problems. This should not hurt and will not take long. We will do all we can to put you at ease.

You may not test positive for any bacteria at all, but you can still have PID. Sometimes, you may need a scan or keyhole surgery to confirm you have it, but this is rare and usually only happens to rule out other causes of your symptoms. 

Because PID is often caused by more than one type of bacteria you may be prescribed a range of antibiotics to take for 2 weeks. You need to take the whole course for it to work properly even if your symptoms start to improve. It is likely you will also get an antibiotic jab. 

You should not have sex until you have finished treatment. This is to stop reinfection, even though not all cases of PID are caused by sex.

You will need to tell any sexual partner from the last 6 months so they can also be tested and treated for a bacterial infection. Do not worry if you feel embarrassed about telling your partner, or former partners - we can help. We can contact them by text for you without giving your name. You can also call us, on 0800 328 3383, for details of this service if you're being treated elsewhere.

If you have not had a sexual partner in the last 6 months you will need to contact the last person you had sex with before that. 

There are effective treatments for PID and you should not have any further problems. 

But if it’s left untreated, PID can lead to: 

  • increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb) now or in the future 
  • infertility or trouble getting pregnant
  • long-term pain in the pelvis and lower tummy

These issues mean you should get any symptoms checked out, even if they are mild. You have no need to feel embarrassed and any doctors or nurses you see will treat you kindly and without judgement. 

You can lower your risk of getting PID by always using condoms with a new sexual partner until you’ve both had a full STI test. 

To get an STI test: