Home | Print this page | Print whole leaflet

Treating PID

PID almost always involves more than one type of bacteria, and therefore is treated with a combination of at least two antibiotics. Specific combinations may vary, but treatment is likely to be:

Antibiotics prescribed for PID include ofloxacin, metronidazole, doxycycline, ceftriaxone (injection), and cefoxitan (injection) plus probenecid. There is some evidence to suggest that treatment with doxycyline and metronidazole only has lower cure rates than other combinations. If you are allergic to any of these antibiotics, tell your doctor.

For any treatment to be effective, it is important to:

• Complete the full course of antibiotics, even if you feel better after a few days.
• Tell your doctor if symptoms haven’t improved within 2 or 3 days. She or he may change your antibiotics or do further investigations to make sure you have been accurately diagnosed.
• Get your sexual partner(s) to be tested and treated for any bacteria that may re-infect you. If your partner(s) are not treated, you will almost certainly be reinfected. If your partner refuses to be tested, the only way to protect yourself from reinfection is to either use barrier contraceptives or stop having sex with that person.
• Avoid sexual intercourse until you and your partner(s) have completed treatment. Even safe sex can interrupt the healing process by jarring the pelvic area. It’s best to avoid all vigorous activity until you are finished with treatment.
• Get a lot of rest. This may be difficult for many women, but it is a key part of treating PID. Try to stay in bed for at least a few days and then take it easy for the next two to six weeks.
• Go to all follow-up appointments. This will give you an opportunity to tell your doctor how you feel, and will give your doctor a chance to check on the progress of treatment.

Treatment for women with HIV

Women who are HIV-positive tend to have more severe symptoms of PID, but studies show that treatment with a standard course of intravenous antibiotics is just as effective as in women who do not have HIV.

Side effects of treatment

Some antibiotics may cause dizziness, nausea and headaches. Unfortunately there is not a lot you can do about this. Avoid alcohol and get as much rest as possible.

Antibiotics may also cause vaginal thrush (yeast infection). Thrush can be treated with vaginal creams or pessaries, or with capsules taken by mouth. For more information on the treatment of thrush please visit the Women’s Health pages on Thrush.

Self Help

Heat. Heat may help to relieve pain and assist in the healing process. Take a hot bath or relax with a hot water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen. (Wait to be diagnosed before you apply heat as it can be dangerous if you have appendicitis.)

Raspberry leaf tea. Raspberry leaf tea (not raspberry tea) may strengthen the reproductive system and help fight infection.

Healthy diet. Eating well, avoiding alcohol and getting plenty of C, A, D and B vitamins will help your body fight infection.

Acupuncture. Some women find that acupuncture helps relieve pelvic pain. Try to find a practitioner who has experience treating women with PID.

Rest. Sleep and rest will help you recover from an episode of PID.

Women with PID may be told they are imagining their symptoms or are overreacting to ‘normal’ period pains. This can be both physically and emotionally damaging. It may help to share your experiences with someone you trust.

Top |  Previous | Next Page

Written by Tamara Beus and published in printed format (2002) by Women's Health

This leaflet is protected by Copyright © Women's Health. You may print off one copy for personal use only.