PID symptoms can appear shortly after being diagnosed with an STD such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. It may take upwards of a year for most people to develop PID, but others can develop it earlier, depending on the severity of the infection.
The bacteria found in two common sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea and chlamydia) are the most frequent causes. PID often develops from 2 days to 3 weeks after exposure to the bacteria, but it may take months to develop. The risks of getting PID include: miscarriage, abortion, or childbirth.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
If you have chlamydia and it's left untreated, it may develop into PID within a year.
Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
discomfort or pain during sex that's felt deep inside the pelvis. pain when peeing. bleeding between periods and after sex.
If progression to PID occurs immediately after chlamydia infection, screening and treatment do not reduce the cumulative incidence of PID. The model estimates, for constant progression and progression at the end, that 10% (95% CI 7-13%) of chlamydia infections progress to PID.
PID symptoms can appear shortly after being diagnosed with an STD such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. It may take upwards of a year for most people to develop PID, but others can develop it earlier, depending on the severity of the infection.
Conclusion: The risk of PID in the year after an episode of treated STD is high, but the highest period of risk is in the first few weeks.
Without medical intervention, a chlamydia infection can persist for years if gone unnoticed [1]. Fortunately, once diagnosed, a healthcare provider can provide patients with the right medication to treat the sexually transmitted infection (STI).
How can I prevent PID? Getting tested for STDs is one of the best ways to prevent PID, because PID is usually caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea. Most people with chlamydia or gonorrhea don't have any symptoms, so testing is the only way to know for sure if you have one of these infections.
Most people who have chlamydia don't notice any symptoms.
If you do get symptoms, these usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. For some people they don't develop until many months later. Sometimes the symptoms can disappear after a few days.
Untreated, about 10-15% of women with chlamydia will develop PID. Chlamydia can also cause fallopian tube infection without any symptoms. PID and “silent” infection in the upper genital tract may cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues, which can lead to infertility.
When signs and symptoms of PID are present, they most often include: Pain — ranging from mild to severe — in your lower abdomen and pelvis. Unusual or heavy vaginal discharge that may have an unpleasant odor. Unusual bleeding from the vagina, especially during or after sex, or between periods.
Pain in the lower abdomen is the most common symptom of pelvic inflammatory disease. 2 The pain can feel like dull pressure or a more intense cramping-type pain. In chronic PID, the pain might be mild but is present all the time.
PID affects about 5% of women in the United States. Your risk for PID is higher if you: Have had an STI. Have had PID before.
It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to develop PID if untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia is the cause. If you get PID from something else, it may take several months to develop it.
Signs and symptoms of PID can include: lower abdominal pain or tenderness that may worsen with movement. menstrual problems (such as painful periods, ovulation pain, heavy discharge) change in smell, colour or amount of vaginal discharge (such as unpleasant or 'fishy' odour)
What is late-stage chlamydia? Late-stage chlamydia refers to an infection that has spread to other parts of the body. For example, it may have spread to the cervix (cervicitis), testicular tubes (epididymitis), eyes (conjunctivitis), or throat (pharyngitis), causing inflammation and pain.
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can lead to chronic pain and infertility. In men, untreated chlamydia can cause pain and swelling in one or both testicles. If detected early, chlamydia may be treated with a single dose of antibiotics.
Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics from a health care provider. However, if chlamydia is left untreated, it can cause permanent damage. Your risk of getting other STIs, like gonorrhea or HIV, increases. In males, untreated chlamydia can lead to sterility (inability to make sperm).
The most common symptom of PID is pain in the lower belly. The pain is often described as cramping or a dull and constant ache.
Pelvic inflammatory disease causes different symptoms in different women. These may include: A dull pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen. Vaginal discharge that is yellow or green and may have an unpleasant smell.
You may be asked to bring in or give a urine sample. To exclude a diagnosis of PID, if there is any possibility you could be pregnant, you will be offered a pregnancy test. This is because other conditions such as ectopic pregnancy (when a pregnancy develops outside the uterus) can cause similar symptoms to PID.
PID occurs most frequently in women ages 15 to 25 years.