I'd just like to add that PID can also be caused by an IUD. Same pathway as Sally mentioned, but with an IUD the bacteria is assisted by the string or wick of the IUD.
When I was first married I had untreated PID. I had an IUD, and complained a lot of pain to my GP. He did tests and kept telling me that everything was fine. It wasn't until I moved to a new town a couple of years later, that my new doctor sent me to a gyn the same day. The gyn new right away, and hospitalized me. He said there was no detectable STD anywhere, but that it was caused by the IUD. My IUD was also moving around in my womb, and had inplanted itself several times in different places in my uterus. No wonder I hurt so bad! I never used an IUD again. I too, was rendered infertile because of this.
Hope this helps.
At Fri, 1 Mar 2002, Karen Pinckard wrote:
>
>I have seen a lot of mention of PID and am wondering just what it is. Sorry if I sound dumb. Could someone please answer.
>Thanks Karen
-- csheedy