•  
  •  

Recurrent Pelvic Infections

Recurrent pelvic infections may be caused by:

  • Having a sex partner who is not treated, so reinfection occurs.
  • Having a new sex partner, or more than one sex partner, who spreads an infection.
  • Receiving medical treatment that does not cure the infection. Typically, this happens when the wrong medicine is prescribed or not all of the medicine is taken.

Some women who have been infected with chlamydia develop a "hypersensitive response" when they are exposed to the bacteria again. A second infection can cause more irritation and damage to the pelvic organs that is worse than the first infection.

The risk of infertility increases with each episode of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

  • After a single episode, the risk is about 8% (compared with 1% of women who have never had PID).1
  • With each additional episode of PID, the risk of infertility doubles or triples.2

Citations

  1. Paavonen J, et al. (2008). Pelvic inflammatory disease. In KK Holmes et al., eds., Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 4th ed., pp. 1017–1050. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  2. Paavonen J, Schwartz D (2003). Pelvic inflammatory disease. In SA Morse et al., eds., Atlas of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS, 3rd ed., pp. 141–157. Edinburgh: Mosby.
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Revised November 23, 2010

Last Revised: November 23, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

To learn more visit Healthwise.org

© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.