Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is usually first treated with antibiotics to destroy the bacteria that are causing the infection. These antibiotics are often taken by mouth or injected into a muscle. In severe cases, PID may require hospitalization, where antibiotics may be given intravenously. In rare cases, surgery may be needed to drain abscesses in the fallopian tubes. Any sexual partners should be tested and treated with antibiotics at the same time to prevent re-infection, and people with PID should avoid having sex until they've completed treatment and the infection is gone.
After you've been treated for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), there are certain follow-up steps you should take. Make sure you avoid sexual contact until you've completed your treatment. Also, it's important to tell any sex partners you've had within the last 60 days that you're being treated, so they can also get treatment. Remember that you can be re-infected with bacteria that lead to PID even after treatment, so practice safe sex by using condoms and get tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases.
Although testing for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is usually done only if a woman has noticeable symptoms, it's a good idea to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases on a regular basis. STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea are common causes of PID, so if you're at risk, you should be tested regularly. People at high risk may include sexually active women under the age of 25, and women who have unprotected sex with multiple partners. If STDs are caught early, the chance that they will develop into PID is decreased. Talk to your doctor about getting tested.
