Symptoms and Risk Factors of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

The symptoms of PID can vary, but may include the following:

• Dull pain or tenderness in the stomach or lower abdominal area, or pain in the right upper abdomen.
• Abnormal vaginal discharge that is yellow or green in color or that has an unusual odor.
• Painful urination.
• Chills or high fever.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Pain during sex.

There are several things which would put a woman at risk for PID, including:

• Women with sexually transmitted diseases -- especially gonorrhea and chlamydia -- are at greater risk for developing PID.
• Women who have had a prior episode of PID are at higher risk for another episode.
• Sexually active teenagers are more likely to develop PID than are older women.
• Women with many sexual partners are at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and PID.

Some studies suggest that douching may contribute to PID. Douching may push bacteria into the upper genital tract and may mask the discharge that could alert a woman to seek medical attention.