What Are Possible Factors Associated with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a relatively common gynecological condition. Women affected by it typically exhibit symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, increased vaginal discharge, fever, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and irregular menstrual cycles. Once similar symptoms are detected, prompt medical treatment is necessary to avoid affecting women's fertility and health. Below are some possible causes and treatment methods for pelvic inflammatory disease.

What can cause pelvic inflammatory disease?

1. Bacterial Infection: Cases of pelvic inflammatory disease caused by ascending bacterial infections are prevalent. Usually, women have certain defense mechanisms in the vagina and cervix that can prevent bacteria or other pathogens from entering the pelvic cavity. However, when inflammation occurs in the vagina or cervix, bacteria can travel along the cervix into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease.

2. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): STIs are one of the main causes of pelvic inflammatory disease. STIs include gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia infections, etc. These pathogens are transmitted through sexual contact, enter the female reproductive tract, and infect pelvic organs, causing inflammation. Additionally, engaging in unsafe sexual practices or having poor hygiene increases the risk of infection.

3. Poor Menstrual Hygiene Habits: During menstruation, women need to maintain personal hygiene habits. Otherwise, inadequate cleanliness may trigger gynecological problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease. During menstruation, the uterus and vagina are open, so if personal hygiene is not maintained, or if sexual activity occurs during menstruation, or if inadequate sanitary products such as unclean sanitary pads are used, pelvic inflammatory disease may arise.

How to treat pelvic inflammatory disease?

1. General Treatment: Maintain cleanliness of the external genitalia daily and avoid using enormously irritating cleansers. Avoid engaging in sexual activities with multiple partners and use condoms to reduce the risk of infection. Undergo regular gynecological examinations to detect and treat potential infections early. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and adequate sleep, to enhance immunity.

2. Medication Treatment: Antibiotics are the mainstay of clinical drug treatment, primarily by inhibiting the reproduction and growth of pathogens, reducing inflammation, and achieving therapeutic goals. However, frequent use of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance. Therefore, if a patient uses the same antibiotic again, it may be difficult to relieve the condition.

Patients can choose Chinese patent medicines with anti-inflammatory effects, such as the herbal medicine Fuyan Pill. This medicine can improve various symptoms caused by pelvic inflammatory disease, such as lower abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal discharge, and menstrual irregularities. Moreover, it is a pure herbal formula that does not cause discomfort to the body while treating the disease.

How do you prevent pelvic inflammatory disease in daily life?

Firstly, it's essential to cultivate good hygiene habits, such as changing underwear frequently and keeping the external genitalia clean and dry. Avoid using alkaline cleansers to clean the internal private parts as it can easily disrupt the bacterial balance inside, increasing the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Secondly, women with pelvic inflammatory disease generally need bed rest. Semi-recumbent positions can help accumulate pus and limit the spread of inflammation. In terms of diet, consume high-calorie, high-protein, and high-vitamin liquid or semi-liquid foods. If experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, replenish fluids.

Also, try to avoid unnecessary gynecological examinations to prevent the spread of inflammation if experiencing abdominal distension, gastric and intestinal decompression is necessary. Additionally, warm heat therapy can promote local blood circulation in the pelvic area, improve metabolism, and help absorb and alleviate inflammation.

Lastly, if suffering from vaginitis, seek timely treatment to prevent pathogenic bacteria from infecting the endometrium and fallopian tubes, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease. Lastly, it's important to remember that during treatment or if your partner is infected with pathogenic microorganisms, refrain from intercourse until complete eradication of the infection.