What is the full form of PID?

The full form of PID is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.PID is an infection that affects the uterus, ovaries, pelvis, fallopian tubes, and other upper female reproductive organs. Cancer risk is increased by untreated pelvic inflammatory disease, which has severe side effects, including ectopic pregnancies, infertility, and excruciating pelvic pain.

The condition affects the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other organs, which is brought on by bacterial invasion in the female reproductive system, notably the cervix and vagina. PID is primarily brought on by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Due to the structure of the female internal organs, pathogens and other foreign pollutants can readily enter the female reproductive tract through the infundibulum and spread to the pelvic cavity.

The signs and symptoms include irregular and heavy menstrual bleeding, fever, strange vaginal discharge, and cervical pain. If PID is not adequately treated, it may cause irreversible damage to the female reproductive organs because it causes scarring inside the reproductive system.

Pelvic Inflammatory diseases are broadly classified into 4 types based on their intensity and severity:

1. A medical evaluation is required because the patient may have a fever, lower abdomen pain, and pale or yellow vaginal discharge, which may or may not be bothersome. Acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease 
2. Sub-Acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Since PID develops gradually, the patient may experience only minor symptoms up until the infection spreads to the pelvic cavity, at which point the patient may also experience regular abdominal pain and bloody discharge.
3. Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (CPID): If PID is untreated or undiagnosed, the patient will progress to chronic PID, during which they may experience severe pelvic discomfort, irregular and heavy menstrual bleeding, and pain during sexual activity. Infertility may potentially result from it.
4. The female reproductive system is designed so that the lining of the cervix and fallopian tubes encourages an active passage to the sperm and restores its mobility so that it can reach the tubes for fertilisation, and the fertilised ovum can easily cross this path and enter the uterus for implantation. This holds for any bacterium or infection that may readily pass past the cervix and uterus and enter the fallopian tube, harming the inside lining of the tube and causing lasting damage to the internal reproductive organ. Egg, sperm, and active embryo passage may become obstructed in the fallopian tubes.

A further pelvic examination is performed to rule out any pain, abnormal discharge, or abnormal mass before the doctor or gynaecologist considers noting the patient’s medical and sexual history to determine the cause. A vaginal swab is obtained, and the results of any bacterial infections are forwarded to a lab for analysis. The diagnosis is confirmed by a bacterial infection test that is positive. If the infection test comes out negative, the patient will undergo additional testing, such as abdominal ultrasound and a CT scan, to evaluate the organs and correlate them with the symptoms to confirm the diagnosis.

To prevent future complications, treatment is typically started as soon as the patient exhibits signs of infection. Antibiotics for bacterial infections and analgesics for pelvic pain are used as the first line of treatment. Depending on the infection’s severity, oral or injectable antibiotics may be recommended. If the symptoms don’t go away after 3–4 days of medication, it may be time to remove any present IUDs.

To prevent the spread of illness to the other partners, the sexual partners are screened for any indication of an infection. PID typically happens in long-term relationships. When having sex, it is recommended to use contraceptives like condoms, and if the disease has progressed, all sexual activity must cease until the patient’s treatment is finished and they are free from infection.