Reproductive health
Medicines for Pelvic inflammatory disease
An infection of the upper female reproductive organs — the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries — usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection spreading upwards, where prompt treatment with a combination of antibiotics matters because delay risks long-term harm such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
Quick answer
What is Pelvic inflammatory disease?
Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is an infection of the upper part of the female reproductive system — the womb (uterus), the fallopian tubes and the ovaries. It most often happens when bacteria from a sexually transmitted infection, particularly chlamydia or gonorrhoea, travel up from the vagina and cervix into these deeper organs.
- How it is treated: The cornerstone of treating PID is starting antibiotics promptly, without waiting for swab results, because early treatment reduces the risk of long-term complications.
- Self-care: Completing the full course of antibiotics even when feeling better, avoiding sex until both you and any recent partners have finished treatment and symptoms have settled, attending for follow-up to check the infection has cleared, and using condoms with new partners all help recovery and reduce the chance of the infection returning.
- When to seek help: See your GP or a sexual-health (GUM) clinic promptly if you have lower tummy or pelvic pain with an abnormal discharge, unusual bleeding, pain during sex or a fever, as PID needs early antibiotic treatment to prevent long-term harm.
What it is
Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is an infection of the upper part of the female reproductive system — the womb (uterus), the fallopian tubes and the ovaries. It most often happens when bacteria from a sexually transmitted infection, particularly chlamydia or gonorrhoea, travel up from the vagina and cervix into these deeper organs. Sometimes other bacteria are involved. The symptoms can be vague or quite marked, and may include pain in the lower tummy or pelvis, an abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods or after sex, pain during sex, and a raised temperature. Some women have only mild symptoms, or none at all, which is one reason the condition can go unnoticed. What makes PID important is the harm it can do if it is not treated promptly: inflammation and scarring of the fallopian tubes can lead to long-term pelvic pain, an increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy (where a pregnancy develops outside the womb), and difficulty getting pregnant in future. Because of this, the threshold for starting treatment is deliberately low, and antibiotics are usually begun on the basis of the symptoms and examination rather than waiting for every test result.
How it is treated
The cornerstone of treating PID is starting antibiotics promptly, without waiting for swab results, because early treatment reduces the risk of long-term complications. Because several different bacteria can be involved, treatment is a combination of antibiotics chosen to cover the likely organisms, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea — commonly an injection of a cephalosporin together with a course of doxycycline (a tetracycline) and metronidazole. The full course should be completed even once symptoms improve. Just as important as the antibiotics themselves is dealing with the sexual-health side of the picture: testing for sexually transmitted infections, making sure recent sexual partners are tested and treated so that re-infection does not occur, and avoiding sex until both partners have finished treatment. Rest and simple pain relief help with symptoms. Most women are treated as outpatients, but more severe illness, pregnancy, or a poor response to tablets may mean treatment in hospital. Care is often shared between the GP and a sexual-health (genitourinary medicine) clinic, which can help with testing, partner notification and follow-up.
For this condition, these medicines
Medicine classes used for Pelvic inflammatory disease
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
Symptom checker
Symptoms that can point to Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease can be one cause of these symptoms. Each guide explains the other possible causes and the red-flag warning signs that mean you should get urgent help:
By active ingredient
Specific medicines used for Pelvic inflammatory disease
Dose-free guides to individual active ingredients used in pelvic inflammatory disease — what each is, how it works, how to take it, and its advantages and disadvantages:
Beyond medication
Lifestyle and self-care
Completing the full course of antibiotics even when feeling better, avoiding sex until both you and any recent partners have finished treatment and symptoms have settled, attending for follow-up to check the infection has cleared, and using condoms with new partners all help recovery and reduce the chance of the infection returning. Stopping smoking and attending regular sexual-health check-ups support longer-term reproductive health.
When to get help
When to see a doctor
See your GP or a sexual-health (GUM) clinic promptly if you have lower tummy or pelvic pain with an abnormal discharge, unusual bleeding, pain during sex or a fever, as PID needs early antibiotic treatment to prevent long-term harm. Seek urgent medical assessment the same day if the pain is severe, if you have a high temperature, feel very unwell or are vomiting, or if there is any chance you could be pregnant — pain in early pregnancy can signal an ectopic pregnancy, which is a medical emergency. Go back for review if your symptoms do not improve within a few days of starting antibiotics.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
Answers
Pelvic inflammatory disease: frequently asked questions
What medicines are used for pelvic inflammatory disease?
PID is treated with a combination of antibiotics, started promptly and chosen to cover the range of bacteria that can be responsible, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea. A common combination is an injection of a cephalosporin together with a course of doxycycline (a tetracycline) and metronidazole. Using more than one antibiotic ensures the likely organisms are all covered. It is important to complete the whole course even once you feel better, and recent sexual partners should also be tested and treated to prevent re-infection.
Why does PID need to be treated quickly?
Prompt treatment matters because the infection can scar and damage the fallopian tubes if it is left to continue. This scarring can lead to long-term pelvic pain, a higher risk of an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb) and difficulty becoming pregnant in future. The longer the infection goes untreated, the greater the risk of lasting harm, which is why antibiotics are usually started on the basis of symptoms and examination rather than waiting for all the test results to come back.
Do my sexual partners need to be treated too?
Yes. PID is usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection, so it is important that recent sexual partners are tested and treated, even if they have no symptoms. Treating partners prevents you from being re-infected once your own course is finished and helps stop the infection spreading further. A sexual-health (GUM) clinic can help with this through a process called partner notification, which can be done discreetly. It is also advised to avoid sex until both you and your partners have completed treatment and symptoms have settled.
Can PID affect my chances of having a baby?
It can, particularly if treatment is delayed or the infection comes back repeatedly. Damage to the fallopian tubes is the main concern, as scarring can make it harder for an egg to travel to the womb, increasing the risk of infertility and of ectopic pregnancy. The good news is that prompt, complete treatment of a single episode greatly reduces this risk, which is exactly why early antibiotics, finishing the full course and treating partners are all so important. If you have concerns about fertility after PID, your GP can advise and refer you if needed.
Keep reading
Related articles
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Pelvic inflammatory disease.
- British Association for Sexual Health and HIV
Related conditions
Browse by body system
Building a patient-information or formulary resource?
We create evidence-led, dose-free clinical references and decision aids for teams.