PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE: HOW IS IT TREATED?
Depending on the history, the severity of the symptoms, and what the doctor finds on examination, a doctor may recommend that treatment be started even before the test results are available. When the results are available a change in treatment may be necessary, but starting treatment early gives a better chance of getting rid of the bugs as soon as possible.
The usual treatment is antibiotics, given in tablet form. If a woman is unwell, or vomiting, initially she may need to be treated in hospital with intravenous antibiotics, then changed over to oral medication when she is a bit better.
The type of antibiotics necessary depends on the bugs which are causing the problem. The usual treatment for sexually acquired PID should include doxy-cycline (for chlamydia), even if the test for chlamydia comes back negative. This is because the test is not always reliable, but we know that chlamydia causes a fair proportion of PID. Specific treatment is also needed for gonorrhoea if it is isolated or strongly suspected. Two broad-spectrum antibiotics, like amoxycillin and metronidazole, are often prescribed. They are particularly useful if the PID is post-surgical, but are also prescribed for sexually acquired PID, to cover any other bugs which may be tagging along for the ride, as they can do. It is very important that the entire treatment course is finished, to ensure that the infection is fully treated.
A vital part of treating any sexually transmitted disease is treating the sexual partner(s), to prevent reinfection and spread. Particularly in view of the increasing potential for damage to fertility with each episode of PID, re-infection is best avoided.
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