Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

You are more likely to get pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if you:

• Are at Reference risk for sexually transmitted infection (STI). Sexually active teens and young women have the highest rate of STIs. This is almost always from having sex without using a condom.
• Have had PID before. If you have had PID once, your reproductive tract may be less able to fight a new infection because of scar tissue from past PID.
• Have had chlamydia before. A second infection can cause more irritation and pelvic organ damage that is worse than the first time.
• Douche. Doctors advise against douching, because it can cause vaginal and pelvic infections.

Some medical procedures can increase your risk of PID by introducing bacteria into the reproductive tract. These include:

• Scraping the lining of the uterus (Reference D&C Opens New Window) or taking a tissue sample (biopsy).
• Inserting an Reference IUD Opens New Window. Your risk of infection can be reduced if:
  • You are tested and treated for STIs and bacterial vaginosis (if detected) before IUD insertion.
  • The insertion is done carefully to minimize the chance of infection (clean technique).
• Examining the uterus or fallopian tubes with a lighted viewing tube (Reference hysteroscopy Opens New Window or Reference hysterosalpingogram Opens New Window).
• Inducing abortion.

PID is rare in women who aren't sexually active, don't have menstrual periods, are pregnant, or have had their uterus or ovaries removed.

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