ABSTRACT
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is inflammation of the female upper reproductive tract caused by bacterial infection, often introduced during sexual intercourse. PID may be caused by a number of bacterial species, with the sexually transmitted infections (STI) chlamydia and gonorrhoea being the most frequent. Sexually active women between the ages of 16 and 25 years are most often affected, but it can occur in any sexually active woman. The occurrence of PID following an STI infection is highly variable and maybe from a few days to six months after initial vaginal/cervical infection. PID is characterised by salpingitis, oophoritis, parametritis and endometritis. No single test can diagnose PID: diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and imaging tests. Suspected PID should be diagnosed and treated promptly, as untreated PID is likely to result in potentially serious complications. All patients with PID should be counselled on the causes of the disease and the importance of safe sexual practice.
