One of the most serious complications of STDs in women is PID or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, an infection of the upper genital tract. It can affect the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes and millions of women contract this disease every year.

Normally the mucus that covers the cervix protects it from invading bacteria which can move up to the organs causing harm. However when the cervix is exposed to an STD it becomes infected which strips the cervix of any defending bacteria and allows the harmful bacteria to travel up to the tubes where it causes inflammation and pelvic pain. Depending upon how far the bacteria travels a women's fallopian tubes can become infected and prevent any future pregnancies.

The most common way for women to become infected is through sexual contact by a person who has an STD, specifically Gonorrhea or Chlamydia. There are cases when women get pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) without any sexual contact and however rare this occurs, doctor's are not sure how the bacteria gets into the vagina making its way up into the canal.

PID causes different symptoms and some woman will experience pain while others will only experience mild discomfort; Symptoms may include one or more of the following:

• Lower abdominal pain
• Pain with intercourse
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Fever, chills
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding

Most cases of PID are caused by Chlamydid Trachomatis, commonly known as Chlamydia or Neisseria Gonorrhoea, commonly known as Gonorrhea.

PID is not an easy diagnosis to make as the symptoms can mimic other ailments. In addition to a regular pelvic exam the doctor may need to perform a sonogram and blood tests to eliminate other possibilities. Once the doctor makes a diagnosis antibiotic treatment is always their first course of treatment.

Some of the Risk Factors include:

• Multiple sexual partners
• History of STDs
• Women under the age of 25 years old
• Regular douching with commercial personal products which can remove the defending barrier within our vaginal cervix leaving us vulnerable

There are times when even antibiotics fail to kill the bacteria causing PID and hospitalization may be required if the patient is unable to keep any fluids and antibiotics down; has a high fever; continues the doctor recommended regimen but it doesn't help or the woman develops a pelvic abscess. If PID is not treated it could lead to long-term damage including

• Permanent scarring of the woman's reproductive organs
• Infertility (not being able to have children)
• Surgery to remove the damaged reproductive organs (hysterectomy)

Once a woman is cured of PID any sexual partners must be treated so they will not spread this infection to anyone else including re-infecting you.