Pelvic infection, also known as pelvic inflammatory disease, is a bacterial disease of the uterus, ovaries and tubes. Mostly polymicrobial infections, that is, infections in which many different types of microbes are present together. Pelvic infection occurs when bacteria in the vagina (vagina, cervix) travel upwards and enter the uterus, from where they spread to the tubes and eggs. Pelvic infection, which usually occurs due to procedures such as childbirth, abortion, endometrial biopsy, is a disorder that significantly increases the risk of not being able to conceive in women.
What are the Symptoms of Pelvic Infection?
The most obvious and common symptoms of pelvic infection are groin pain and vaginal discharge. Apart from these symptoms, the patient may also experience menstrual irregularity, intermittent and post-coital bleeding, tenderness in pelvic examination, pain in cervical movements, burning during urination, increased temperature inside the vagina, diarrhea and fever.
Pelvic infection is a type of disease that can be transmitted sexually. The risk of pelvic infection increases if a person has a polyamorous sexual life or if their partner has a polyamorous sexual life. However, the use of a spiral can also cause pelvic infection. The risk factors for pelvic infection are as follows;
- Polygamy (age at sexual intercourse, frequency, number of partners)
- Intrauterine device use
- Risk of previous PID
- Genital tract surgery (spiral insertion, HSG, hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy, OPU…)
- History of sexually transmitted infections,
- Vaginal douche
- Low socioeconomic level
- Bacterial vaginosis
- AIDS
Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Infection
Pelvic infection is diagnosed by pelvic examination, laboratory tests and, if necessary, laparoscopy. Laboratory tests may show an increase in inflammatory cells (leukocytes) and infection parameters (CRP, sedimentation). Pelvic infection is a disease that should be treated immediately after diagnosis. Antibiotic therapy is the most common method used in the treatment of mild cases. However, in severe cases, patients who do not improve with oral treatment, pregnant women and patients with comorbidities, the patient should definitely be hospitalized. In the treatment of pelvic infection, which necessarily requires partner treatment, surgical treatment (laparoscopic or open surgery) can be applied to the patient in addition to antibiotic treatment.
