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 medication is prescribed or not all of
the medication 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
Golden MR (2003). Vaginitis and sexually transmitted
diseases. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds., Scientific American Medicine, vol. 2, part 7, chap. 22. New York: WebMD.
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.
Golden MR (2003). Vaginitis and sexually transmitted
diseases. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds., Scientific American Medicine, vol. 2, part 7, chap. 22. New York: WebMD.
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.
