Weitz & Luxenberg Addresses Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Weitz & Luxenberg is committed to keeping the public abreast of important litigation areas, as well as related medical topics that may be of interest to you, such as Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases. Pelvic Inflammatory disease affects 1 in 7 women, which is approximately “one million women each year.”  (Obgyn.net) If you have any questions or concerns, Weitz & Luxenberg is available to help.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID):

PID has little to do with the actual pelvic girdle, but it involves many of the reproductive organs that the pelvis protects, including the uterus, the Fallopian tubes and to some extent, the ovaries.   The disease occurs when “bacteria moves upwards from a woman’s vagina and into her reproductive organs.” (CDC)

Who is Most at Risk for PID?

• Women who have multiple sex partners increase their chances significantly, “because of the potential for more exposure to infectious agents.” (CDC)
• Teenaged girls and women in their early twenties are “more likely to develop PID than women older than 25.” (CDC)  This is because teenagers and women in their early twenties have not fully matured, which “increases their susceptibility to the STDS that are linked to PID.” (CDC)
• Women who use an intrauterine device (IUD), a contraceptive. However, “the risk is greatly reduced if a woman is tested and treated for STDS before an IUD is inserted.” (CDC)
• Women who have had gonorrhea or chlamydia (two of the most common bacterial STDs).
• Women who have already had an earlier bout with PID.

The Symptoms of PID

When diagnosing PID, a gynecologist or other medical professional will look for the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Painful urination
• Unusual vaginal discharge that smells foul
• Lower Abdominal (and in some cases upper abdominal) pain
• Irregular menstrual bleeding
• Loss of Appetite
• Tenderness or dull pain in the back

The Consequences of PID

If left untreated, or improperly treated, PID can:

• Permanently damage the female reproductive organs
• Cause Infertility
• Cause ectopic pregnancy. This occurs when a fertilized egg grows inside of the Fallopian tube as if it were in the uterus, resulting in “severe pain, internal bleeding, and even death.”  (CDC)

How can PID be treated?

It depends on the severity of the PID diagnosis. A medical professional will typically prescribe powerful antibiotics which are effective against multiples types of infectious bacteria. Antibiotics can come in the form of a pill, or they can be administered via injection.  

It is suggested that “women being treated for PID should be reevaluated by their health provider two to three days after starting treatment,” to ensure that the antibiotics are working as they should. Moreover, if the woman is still sexually active, “her partner (s) should also be tested to decrease the risk of re-infection, even if the partner (s) has no symptoms.” (CDC)

If antibiotics are not effective, or if they cause serious side effective, hospitalization may have to be considered.  The afflicted woman may need surgery (for example appendicitis). Some PID complications, such as “chronic pelvic pain and scarring, which, though difficult to treat, can improve with surgery.” (CDC)

How can PID be prevented?

• Keep up to date with your doctor’s appointments
• Use condoms when having sex
• Minimize the amount of partners you have

If you any questions about Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or anything pertaining to the pelvis, such as the recalled DePuy implants, contact Weitz and Luxenberg.

Acknowledgments:

Obgyn.net

http://www.obgyn.net/femalepatient/femalepatient.asp?page=breeding_pid

The Center For Disease Control and Prevention:

http://www.cdc.gov/std/pid/stdfact-pid.htm

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