Symptoms
Symptoms of
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) range from none at
all to severe.
It's common to think that PID symptoms are a sign of something less
serious. Many women who have pelvic organ damage caused by PID report that
they've never been diagnosed with PID. This is particularly true of PID that is
caused by
chlamydia, which may cause no symptoms.
PID symptoms often do not appear until infection and inflammation
have spread to the fallopian tubes or the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum). Symptoms of PID tend to be more
noticeable during
menstrual bleeding and sometimes in the week
following.
The main symptom of PID is lower abdominal pain, usually described
as crampy or as constant and dull. This pain may get worse during bowel
movements, sexual intercourse, or urination. You may also have one or more
other symptoms, including:
- A sense of pressure in the
pelvis.
- Low back pain. Sometimes this pain spreads down one or both
legs.
- Abnormal discharge—such as yellow-, brown-, or green-colored
discharge—or an increased amount of discharge from the
vagina.
- Fever [usually over
101°F (38.33°C)]. However, you
can have PID without fever.
- A vague feeling of body weakness or
discomfort (malaise).
- Headache.
- Nausea or
vomiting.
- Pain during sex (dyspareunia).
- Irregular
menstrual bleeding.
- Urinary symptoms, such as burning or pain with
urination.
It is important that you see your health
professional when you have any of the above symptoms, because PID and
several
other conditions with similar symptoms require prompt
treatment.