Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease is often referred to as PID.

This condition includes uterine infections, as well as an infection of the fallopian tubes and other reproductive organs.

The signs for PID can be vague and is often unrecognized while damage is being done to a woman’s reproductive organs including the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

Disease Control and Prevention:

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), women who are sexually active in their childbearing years are most at risk. Those under the age of 25 are more likely to develop PID than those older than 25, partly because the cervix of teenage girls and younger women is not fully matured, increasing their chances to STDs (Sexually Transmitted Disease) that are linked to PID.

The CDC also states the more sex partners a woman has, the greater the risk for developing PID. A woman whose partner has more than one sex partner is also at greater risk of developing PID, because there is more exposure to infectious agents.

If you douche, you may be at a higher risk for developing PID. Research has shown douching changes organisms that live in the vagina and can cause bacteria to get into the upper reproductive organs.

Women who use intrauterine device (IUD) may have a slight risk of PID near the time of insertion compared with women using other contraceptives or no contraceptive at all. This risk is greatly reduced if you are tested and, if necessary, treated for STDs before an IUD is inserted.

Symptoms:

  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Fever
  • Vaginal discharge with a foul odor
  • Painful urination
  • Painful intercourse
  • Irregular menstrual bleeding
  • Sometimes pain in the right upper abdomen area

Consequences of this condition can include infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and abscess formation. Pelvic inflammatory disease can be caused as a complication of a sexually transmitted disease or STD, including chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Natural Remedies for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease:

Vitamin C:

Ascorbic acid is another name for Vitamin C. Foods that are rich in vitamin C are a great natural remedy for anyone with PID. The cervix uses vitamin C to make collagen, which the body needs in order to hold cervical cells together tight enough to prevent bacterial infection.

Vitamin C rich foods include citrus fruits like oranges, strawberries, and broccoli. There are also Vitamin C supplements you can take daily. Red raspberry leaf herbal tea offers a rich source of Vitamin C. It is also helpful in the fight against infection and inflammation.

Plain, Sugarless Yogurt:

An application of one cup of plain sugarless yogurt to your vulva and vagina is a great natural remedy. Plain yogurt contains millions of Lactobacillus acidophilus which is a healthy good bacteria that is normally found in the vagina.

PID is caused by a common bacteria known as Gardnerella vaginalis. Lactobacillus kills Gardnerella vaginalis and applying yogurt will eradicate the Gardnerella vaginalis. Push the yogurt into your vagina and smear on your vulva, leave in for three hours and rinse. Do this for three days.

Sitz Bath:

A sitz bath can often relieve the pain of PID by alternating a cold or lukewarm water soak with a hot water soak in the tub. Use as little as one inch of lukewarm water in the tub. The temperature should be between 55 and 85 degrees F.

Soak in this cold bath for about thirty seconds, and then increase the water temperature to between 105 and 115 degrees F and soak in a hot bath for 3 minutes. Alternate between the two as often as you can.