Pelvic pain with fever? Know the signs of PID. Women's health, Chetna Hospital, Chinchwad
May 23, 2025

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the womb (uterus), fallopian tubes and ovaries. It is usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea. PID is treated with antibiotics. It is easier to treat when it is found early, and early treatment lowers the chance of long-term problems with your reproductive health.

Some women have clear symptoms, such as pain low in the tummy or unusual discharge. Others have mild symptoms or none at all. This guide explains the signs, the tests and the treatment. It is written for women in Chinchwad and across PCMC who want to know when to see a gynaecologist.

What is pelvic inflammatory disease?

PID happens when bacteria move up from the vagina or cervix (the neck of the womb) into the womb, fallopian tubes or ovaries. It can affect anyone with a womb.

The fallopian tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the womb. Infection can leave scar tissue in and around these tubes, and scarring can block them. This is why prompt treatment matters for future fertility.

Symptoms of PID

Symptoms can start within a few days or build up slowly. Some women have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may include:

  • pain or tenderness in the lower tummy or pelvis
  • pain deep inside during sex
  • unusual vaginal discharge, which may be yellow or green or have an odd smell
  • bleeding between periods or after sex
  • heavier or more painful periods than usual
  • pain or burning when you pass urine
  • fever or chills
  • feeling sick or vomiting

Some of these symptoms can also come from other problems, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI). Tests help tell them apart.

What causes PID?

Most PID is caused by STIs that have not been treated, mainly chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Less often, bacteria that normally live in the vagina cause it.

Your chance of getting PID is higher if you:

  • have had PID before
  • have had an STI before
  • have more than one sexual partner, or a partner who has other partners
  • are sexually active and aged 25 or younger
  • have recently given birth, had a miscarriage or had an abortion
  • have had a procedure that opens the cervix, such as having an IUD (for example, a Copper-T) fitted or a hysteroscopy
  • douche (wash inside the vagina)

Having an IUD fitted carries a small rise in risk. This is mostly in the first three weeks after it is placed.

Why early treatment matters

Antibiotics treat the infection, but they cannot undo damage that has already happened. Treatment that starts late raises the chance of problems. If PID is not treated, it can lead to:

  • pockets of pus (abscesses) in the fallopian tubes or ovaries
  • long-term pelvic pain
  • difficulty getting pregnant
  • a higher chance of ectopic pregnancy, where a pregnancy grows outside the womb

PID can also come back, especially after another STI. Knowing this helps you act early: see a doctor soon, finish your treatment and make sure your partner is treated too.

See a doctor if

Ask for an urgent appointment with a gynaecologist or your family doctor if:

  • you think you might have PID
  • you have pain in your lower tummy or pelvis, even if it comes and goes
  • you have unusual discharge, bleeding after sex or bleeding between periods
  • you have any of these symptoms and are pregnant, or might be pregnant
  • you are taking antibiotics for PID and do not feel better after 3 days
  • you think you have been exposed to an STI, or STI treatment does not seem to be working

Call 108 or 112 or go to the emergency department if

  • you have severe pelvic pain, or pain that keeps getting worse
  • you have pelvic pain with heavy vaginal bleeding
  • you get a sudden, sharp pain low in your tummy
  • you have pain under your right ribs and in your right shoulder
  • you feel dizzy or faint
  • you have a very high temperature, or feel hot and shivery
  • you are vomiting or feel very unwell

Do not drive yourself. If you can, take your medicines with you.

How PID is diagnosed

There is no single test for PID. A doctor puts together your symptoms, an examination and test results.

The doctor will ask about your symptoms, recent sexual partners, the contraception you use and whether you could be pregnant. Your answers help the doctor choose the right tests.

Tests may include:

  • an examination of your tummy and pelvis, to check for tenderness
  • swabs from the vagina or cervix, taken using a speculum, to test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and other infections
  • a urine test, to rule out a urine infection
  • a pregnancy test
  • blood tests, to look for signs of infection
  • a pelvic ultrasound scan

In some cases, the doctor may suggest a laparoscopy. This is a small operation. A thin, lighted camera is passed through small cuts in the tummy to look at the pelvic organs.

You can ask for a female doctor, or for a chaperone to be in the room during the examination. You can also ask to stop at any time.

Doctors often start antibiotics before test results come back, because early treatment matters. A negative swab result does not always rule out PID. Pathology and ultrasound services are available at Chetna Hospital in Chinchwad.

Treatment for PID

PID is treated with a course of antibiotics. Treatment often starts with an injection, followed by tablets that you take at home. A doctor will choose the medicine that suits you.

  • Take every dose until the course is finished, even if you feel better. Symptoms can ease before the infection has gone.
  • Go back for any follow-up visit your doctor arranges. If you do not feel better after 3 days of antibiotics, see a doctor urgently.
  • Ask your doctor about pain relief while you recover.

Some women need hospital care, with antibiotics given through a drip. This may happen if the infection is severe, if you are pregnant, if tablets have not helped, or if there is an abscess in a tube or ovary. Surgery is rarely needed. It may be considered if an abscess or symptoms do not get better with antibiotics.

Your partner needs treatment too. Recent sexual partners should be tested and treated for STIs. If they are not treated, the infection can pass back to you. Avoid sex until you and your partner have both finished treatment and your symptoms have gone. If you do have sex, use a condom.

Lowering your risk

  • Use a condom every time you have sex.
  • Get tested for STIs before you start having sex with a new partner.
  • Have regular STI checks if you have new or more than one partner.
  • Limit the number of sexual partners you have.
  • Get prompt treatment for any STI or unusual symptoms.
  • Avoid douching (washing inside the vagina).
  • Have regular gynaecological check-ups.

Frequently asked questions

Is PID always caused by an STI?

No. STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea cause most cases, but bacteria that normally live in the vagina can also cause PID. It can also follow childbirth, a miscarriage, an abortion or a procedure such as fitting an IUD.

Can I get pregnant after PID?

Many women can. PID can affect fertility because scarring can block the fallopian tubes, and repeat infections raise the risk. The CDC says about 1 in 8 women who have had PID have difficulty getting pregnant. Prompt treatment lowers the chance of problems. If you are planning a pregnancy after PID, talk to your gynaecologist.

Should my partner be treated too?

Yes. Recent sexual partners should be tested and treated for STIs. Avoid sex until you have both finished treatment and your symptoms have gone, so the infection does not pass back to you.

Can PID come back?

Yes. You can get PID more than once. The chance is higher if you get another STI, and having had PID before also raises the risk.

Can a Copper-T or other IUD cause PID?

Having an IUD fitted is linked with a small rise in the risk of PID, mostly in the first three weeks after it is placed. If you get pelvic pain, fever or unusual discharge after an IUD is fitted, see a doctor.

Is PID the same as a urine infection?

No. A urine infection affects the bladder and urinary tract. PID affects the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Some symptoms, such as burning when you pass urine, can occur with both, so a doctor may test your urine to tell them apart.

Related reading

Sources

How to reach Chetna Hospital

Gynaecology department, Chetna Hospital

Address: Chetna Hospital, Sambhajinagar, MIDC, G Block, Near Rotary Club, Chinchwad 411019

Phone: 9168690447 / 9158681123

To see the gynaecology team, call one of the numbers above or visit the hospital at this address.

How this article was prepared: Chetna Hospital’s content team wrote it with the help of AI writing tools and checked it against the sources listed. It is general health information, not personal medical advice.