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Q: What is PID?
PID is a condition that affects women and causes inflammation of the pelvis. It is most commonly caused by a serious sexually transmitted infection (such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea). The infection is passed on by having sex with men or women, or by sharing sex toys. Symptoms of PID include pelvic pain, pain during sex, abnormal discharge or bleeding.
Q: What happens now?
After you have been diagnosed with PID, you will have been given some antibiotics. It is important to take these correctly, because PID can cause long-term problems. These complications are more common if PID is not treated properly , & include infertility, persistent pelvic pain & ectopic pregnancy (i.e. a pregnancy that occurs outside of the womb).
Your partner will also need to be tested & receive treatment. This is because sexually transmitted infections affect both men & women, & you must BOTH be treated to clear the infection. As the tests for infection are not 100% reliable, treatment will be given to make sure any infection that might have been missed by the tests is cleared. Please note your partner's treatment will be different to your own.
Avoid vaginal, anal or oral sex (even with a condom) until you & your partner have finished treatment. If your partner starts treatment after you, wait one week from his treatment start date before having sex again. This is because it takes time for the antibiotics to clear the infection & it's important you don't get re-infected.
Q: What happens next?
If you find that your symptoms are not starting to get better after 48-72 hours, it is important to your doctor know. You may require hospital admission, so that treatment can be given intravenously (i.e. through a drip into your arm).
After you have completed your antibiotics in 2 weeks, you should return to see your doctor again to make sure that your symptoms have improved.
It is important that any other recent sexual contacts are also informed of your diagnosis, so they too can be tested & treated for chlamydia & gonorrhoea. This can done through the Claude Nichol Clinic on Eastern Road . For an appointment phone: 01273 664721 (Mon-Fri 9-11am). They will also be able to answer any more questions you might have about PID.
DOs:
DO take your medication correctly
DO make sure your partner is treated
DO tell us if things aren't improving
DONTs:
DON'T have sex until you & your partner have both finished treatment
DON'T miss your follow-up appointment in 2 weeks
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