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Step 1
Ask the female if she is sexually active. The majority of cases in the United States appear in sexually active teens. PID, itself, is not contagious but it starts after the female contracts a STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease), most often Gonorrhea or Chlamydia.
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Step 2
Observe painful symptoms in the later stages of a pelvic inflammatory disease. Generally, the younger the female, the more intense the pain will be. These may include fever, intermittent nausea or vomiting, painful periods and severe cramps, as well as pain during sexual intercourse.
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Step 3
Notice symptoms during the early stages of a PID that are not painful, but should send a signal that something is not quite right. The female may experience a heavy menstrual flow and abnormal vaginal discharge that has a disagreeable odor. In addition, she may bleed in-between her regular periods.
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Step 4
Check for the presence of an IUD (Intrauterine Device). Females who use IUD’s as birth control are more likely to contract a PID. On the other hand, females who use an oral contraceptive are slightly less likely to get a PID, because the mucus on the cervix thickens, creating a barrier from an STD.
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Step 5
Make a doctor’s appointment to determine the presence of Gonorrhea or Chlamydia. He will also perform a pelvic exam, checking for infection and swelling. Treatment is an oral antibiotic, taken for at least 10 days. In cases where the infection is severe, the doctor may admit the patient to the hospital and administer antibiotics intravenously.
