Home Remedies and Herbs for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, refers to an infection found in a woman’s pelvic organs, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, or peritoneum.¹ Pelvic inflammatory disease is the most common cause of ectopic pregnancy and the most common preventable cause of female infertility.^1,2 It can lead to other complications, such as organ scarring, abscesses, pelvic pain, and more.² If caught early on, pelvic inflammatory disease can be treated through antibiotics.³ However, it’s possible for PID to return, and women who have had it once already are more likely to get it in the future.³

What Causes Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

The most common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease is a sexually transmitted infection, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.¹ However, other infections that are not transmitted sexually can also cause PID.³ Pelvic inflammatory disease risk increases if you:

• Have had PID before
• Are sexually active
• Have more than one sex partner
• Have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that goes untreated
• Are sexually active under the age of 25
• Douche

Risk also increases in the first 20 days following the insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) used for birth control.¹ PID can usually be prevented through the same techniques used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. This includes through abstinence, monogamy, and using latex condoms.³ Consider undergoing routine screenings if you are at high risk of contracting an STD or developing pelvic inflammatory disease.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Symptoms

There are two types of pelvic inflammatory disease: acute and chronic PID. Acute PID develops suddenly and results in severe symptoms whereas chronic PID causes mild symptoms from a low-grade infection.¹ In some cases, women may not experience any pelvic inflammatory disease symptoms and don’t know they have it.² Other women may experience symptoms like:

• Lower abdominal and pelvic pain
• Heavy vaginal discharge
• Smelly vaginal discharge
• Pain or bleeding during intercourse
• Abnormal bleeding between periods
• Pain during urination
• Fever
• Chills
• Bowel discomfort

Pelvic inflammatory disease is diagnosed through a variety of lab tests, imaging tests, and physical exams and is treated through antibiotics.² In severe cases, such as with ovarian or fallopian tube access, surgery may be required.¹ Various complementary therapies, such as pelvic inflammatory disease herbs, can help with treatment. Do not wait to get treated for STDs or PID as this can increase your risk of complications like infertility.

References

1. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/pelvic-inflammatory-disease
2. https://medlineplus.gov/pelvicinflammatorydisease.html
3. https://www.cdc.gov/std/pid/stdfact-pid.htm
4. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/dxc-20318612