Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive system. This disease occurs when bacteria (which are often sexually transmitted) spread from the vagina to other reproductive organs, such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. PID doesn't always cause obvious symptoms, although it usually affects a woman's ability to get pregnant. There are several home remedies that can help with PID, but medical treatment is still the main priority to avoid possible infertility and chronic pelvic pain.
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Part 1 of 3: Relieve PID Symptoms at Home
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of PID
PID does not always cause symptoms in its early stages, especially if the infection is caused by chlamydia. However, when the symptoms appear, you will feel pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen, pain in the lower back, vaginal discharge that smells a lot, irregular menstruation, pain during sexual intercourse and urination, and low-grade fever.
- In the United States, nearly 1 million women develop PID each year, and one in eight sexually active young women develop PID before the age of 20.
- The risk factors for PID were being sexually active, having multiple sexual partners, not practicing safe sex, a history of sexually transmitted infections, using an IUD, young age (14–25 years), and frequent use of vaginal douches.
Step 2. Soak in a bath water mixed with Epson salt
If your PID symptoms involve pain in your pelvis and/or lower abdomen, soaking your lower body in water sprinkled with Epsom salt can reduce spasms, pain, and swelling. The high magnesium content in Epsom salt can relax and relax tense muscles and cramps associated with PID. Take warm water in a bath and add a few cups of Epsom salt. You will start to feel the results within 15-20 minutes after soaking.
- Do not soak in water that is too hot or longer than 30 minutes because hot salt water can strip the skin of moisture and cause dehydration.
- Alternatively, warm the cramp in the pelvic/abdominal muscles. You can warm herbal bags in the microwave, especially bags with added aromatherapy (such as lavender) which has a muscle-relaxing effect.
Step 3. Avoid natural antibiotics
Although home remedies seem easier to obtain and less expensive than doctor's medications, PID is a serious disease and can cause irreparable damage to the reproductive organs. Do not try to self-medicate, you should see a doctor immediately and get treatment.
- Relying on home remedies will only prolong the infection. Early treatment is essential to minimize complications.
- You may need to discuss with your doctor about increasing your consumption of garlic and turmeric. This alternative medicine is not a substitute for antibiotics, but it has antibacterial properties that can help the body fight infection.
Part 2 of 3: Getting Medical Assistance to Treat PID
Step 1. Make an appointment with the doctor
If you have symptoms of PID and suspect you have it, see your GP or gynecologist as soon as possible. The doctor will perform a physical (pelvic) examination, take a sample of vaginal fluid, analyze the blood for signs of infection, and may order imaging tests (ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI) to determine whether or not you have PID.
- During a pelvic exam, the doctor will look for pain in the vagina and cervix, pain in the uterus, tubes, or ovaries, blood from the cervix, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
- Blood test results that indicate infection are high erythrocyte sedimentation rates and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBC)
- If you get a diagnosis early, PID can be treated more effectively and the risk of complications is lower (see below).
Step 2. Talk to your doctor about antibiotics
The main medical treatment for PID is antibiotic therapy. Your doctor will likely prescribe a combination of drugs to make your treatment more effective, such as doxycycline with metronidazole, ofloxacin with metronidazole, or a cephalosporin with doxycycline. If PID is severe, you will need to be hospitalized and receive antibiotics intravenously (by IV in the arm vein). Antibiotics can help avoid the serious complications associated with PID, but they cannot reverse the damage already done.
- If PID is caused by a sexually transmitted infection, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, the partner should also be treated with antibiotics or appropriate medications.
- During antibiotic therapy, your symptoms may disappear before the infection clears completely, but you should still follow your doctor's instructions and complete the treatment.
Step 3. Beware of complications
In most cases, antibiotic therapy is sufficient to treat PID, but sometimes medications are ineffective or the infection is severe or progresses to a chronic state making it much more difficult to treat. In this case, you may experience serious complications of PID, such as infertility (inability to get pregnant), the formation of scar tissue around the fallopian tubes that causes blockage of the fallopian tubes, abscesses in the fallopian tubes, pregnancy outside the womb, and pelvic/abdominal pain. Recent research indicates that women with PID also have a higher risk of having a heart attack.
- Initial treatment in approximately 85% of cases of PID is successful and in about 75% no infection recurs.
- If PID recurs, the probability of infertility increases with each relapse episode.
- Some complications, such as an abscess in the fallopian tube, are potentially life-threatening and must be treated immediately. However, a blocked fallopian tube is not life threatening and doesn't always require treatment.
- Increasing doctor visits and gynecological exams can help reduce the risk of PID complications.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing PID
Step 1. Prevent PID by practicing safe sex
The exchange of body fluids during sexual contact is a major cause of PID. The most common sexually transmitted infections that cause PID are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Know your partner's health status and practice safe sex, especially with barrier methods, such as asking your partner to use a condom. The use of condoms does not completely eliminate the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, but can reduce it significantly.
- Avoid unprotected sex every time you have sex, especially during menstruation because at that time the risk of infection and bacterial growth is higher.
- Ask your partner to use a new latex or polyurethane condom at every sexual act.
- Sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea cannot penetrate latex or polyurethane, but sometimes condoms can tear or not be used properly. That's what makes condoms not 100% effective.
Step 2. Maintain personal hygiene
In addition to practicing safe sex and being aware of risk factors, personal hygiene-especially washing hands after defecating-is very important to reduce the likelihood of PID. Bathe regularly and dry the vagina from front to back after urinating or defecating to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria from the rectum to the vagina. In addition to sexually transmitted infections (such as those mentioned above), E. coli bacteria from feces can also cause PID.
- Remember to wash your vagina immediately after sex, even if it's only with antiseptic baby wipes.
- The habit of using a vaginal douche can increase the risk of PID. Douches can upset the balance of "good" bacteria in the vagina and allow "bad" pathogenic types to grow out of control.
- Remember that bacteria can enter the vagina during childbirth, miscarriage, abortion procedures, endometrial biopsies, and when inserting an IUD.
Step 3. Boost your immune system
To fight any form of internal infection (bacterial, viral, or fungal), prevention really depends on a healthy and strong immune system response. The immune system is made up of white blood cells that seek out and try to destroy bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause disease, but when this defense system is weak or changes function, bacteria can grow uncontrollably and then spread to the reproductive organs via the blood. Therefore, focus on keeping your immune system strong and functioning properly.
- Immunity can be increased by getting more (or better quality) sleep, eating more vegetables and fruit, maintaining personal hygiene, drinking enough purified water, and regular cardiovascular exercise.
- Your immune system will also be helped if you reduce your intake of processed sugars (soda, candy, ice cream, pastries), reduce alcohol consumption, and quit smoking.
- Vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements can strengthen the immune response, such as vitamins A, C, and D, as well as zinc, selenium, echinacea, olive leaf extract, and astragalus root.
Tips
- If you are diagnosed with PID, ask your partner to get tested for infection and get treatment (if necessary).
- If you smoke, quit because smoking is associated with an increased risk of PID.
- Avoid iron supplements if you are diagnosed with PID (unless prescribed by a doctor) because harmful bacteria seem to multiply more quickly if there is an excess of iron in the body.
- Acupuncture can help stimulate immunity and reduce aches and pains experienced by women with chronic PID.
Warning
- The risk of infertility in women who experience multiple episodes of PID is increased. One in ten women with PID become infertile.
- If left untreated, PID can cause permanent damage to the female reproductive organs.
