🤰 Obstetrics & GynaecologyReproductive / InfectiousStudentInternResident

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Also known as: PID · pelvic infection · salpingitis

Ascending infection of the upper female genital tract (uterus, tubes, ovaries) — often from gonorrhoea/chlamydia. Prompt broad-spectrum antibiotics prevent infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

Source · Reviewed 2026-08-15 · v1.0— AI-assisted draft — verify against the cited guideline before clinical use.

⚕️ Education only — not medical advice. Verify against the latest official guideline and your local protocol; confirm every drug dose against the cited source before clinical use.

Who gets it

Sexually active women; risk with new/multiple partners, unprotected sex, a prior STI/PID, and instrumentation (IUD insertion, termination).

Red flags — escalate / refer

High fever, severe pain, peritonism, or a pelvic mass (tubo-ovarian abscess); sepsis → admit.
Always exclude pregnancy (ectopic can mimic PID).

Work-up / diagnosis

1Clinical diagnosis — lower abdominal pain with pelvic-organ tenderness (cervical-motion, uterine, or adnexal tenderness); have a LOW threshold to treat.
2Pregnancy test; endocervical/vaginal swabs (NAAT for gonorrhoea/chlamydia); screen for other STIs/HIV.
3Ultrasound if a tubo-ovarian abscess is suspected.

Management — overview

Start empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics covering gonorrhoea, chlamydia AND anaerobes — do not wait for swab results.
Analgesia; remove an IUD only if there is no improvement (per guidance).
Treat sexual partners and advise abstinence until both are treated; screen for other STIs.
Tubo-ovarian abscess, severe illness, pregnancy, or failed oral therapy → admit for IV antibiotics ± drainage.

In-depthFull dosing & advanced protocol

Drug dosing

Empirical regimen (ceftriaxone + doxycycline + metronidazole)

Cover gonorrhoea + chlamydia + anaerobes

Adult dose: Per local guidance (typically ceftriaxone once + doxycycline & metronidazole for 14 days)
Route: IM/IV + oral

Caution: Cover all three targets; treat partners to prevent reinfection.

ICMRICMR Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes (2019) ↗

Abscess, complications & partners

Tubo-ovarian abscess needs IV antibiotics ± drainage.
Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome = perihepatitis (RUQ pain) complicating PID.
Long-term sequelae: infertility, chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy — hence early treatment + partner management.

ICMRICMR Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes (2019) ↗

References

Guidelines change. If something here is out of date, tell us — we keep these current.

🚩 Report outdated / suggest update

More protocols

Antenatal CareStructured pregnancy care to keep mother and baby healthy — screening, supplementation, immunisation and danger-sign education across scheduled contacts.Pre-eclampsia & EclampsiaPre-eclampsia = new hypertension with proteinuria or organ dysfunction after 20 weeks; eclampsia adds seizures. Magnesium sulfate prevents/treats the seizures and delivery is the definitive cure.Gestational Diabetes (GDM)Glucose intolerance first recognised in pregnancy. Good control reduces macrosomia, birth trauma and neonatal problems; most cases resolve after delivery.

Loading…

👤 Who gets it

🚩 Red flags — escalate / refer

🔎 Work-up / diagnosis

🧭 Management — overview

💊 Drug dosing

Empirical regimen (ceftriaxone + doxycycline + metronidazole)

📈 Abscess, complications & partners

📚 References

More protocols

👤 Who gets it

🚩 Red flags — escalate / refer

🔎 Work-up / diagnosis

🧭 Management — overview

💊 Drug dosing

Empirical regimen (ceftriaxone + doxycycline + metronidazole)

📈 Abscess, complications & partners

📚 References

More protocols

Who gets it

Red flags — escalate / refer

Work-up / diagnosis

Management — overview

Drug dosing

Abscess, complications & partners

References

Who gets it

Red flags — escalate / refer

Work-up / diagnosis

Management — overview

Drug dosing

Abscess, complications & partners

References