1. The client/caregiver can define pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
    1. It is an infection and inflammation of the upper genital tract in women.
    2. It affects the
      • Uterus
      • Fallopian tubes
      • Ovaries
    3. Damage to these organs results from scarring caused by the infection and inflammation.
    4. It is the most common preventable cause of infertility in the United States.
    5. The Centers for Disease Control reports that more than 1 million women seek treatment for PID each year. A similar or greater number of women may have pelvic inflammatory disease and not be aware of it.
    6. The most common cause is from bacteria that cause chlamydia and gonorrhea.
  2. The client/caregiver can list risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease.
    1. Same women who are at risk for sexually transmitted infections
    2. Women with a history of previous pelvic inflammatory disease
    3. Sexually active women under the age of 25
    4. Douching
    5. Occasionally, an intrauterine device
    6. Black and Hispanic women
  3. The client/caregiver can list the signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease.
    1. You may not have symptoms.
    2. The most common symptom is pain in the lower abdomen. Others are:
      • Fever
      • Vaginal discharge that may have an odor
      • Painful intercourse
      • Painful urination
      • Irregular menstrual bleeding
    3. Sometimes pelvic inflammatory disease causes symptoms of extreme pain, and a fever will appear suddenly.
  4. The client/caregiver can list possible complications from pelvic inflammatory disease.
    1. Atopic or tubal pregnancy (rupture of the tube causes internal bleeding and is life-threatening)
    2. Infertility (about one of eight women with pelvic inflammatory disease become infertile)
    3. Chronic pelvic pain
  5. The client/caregiver can list treatment and preventive measures for pelvic inflammatory disease.
    1. Know symptoms and report to health care provider promptly if symptoms appear.
    2. Take medication as prescribed. Be sure to finish taking all of your medications.
    3. Surgery may be recommended if medical treatment is not effective.
    4. Client’s sex partner(s) should be treated even if symptoms are not apparent.
    5. Avoid sex with a partner who has not been treated.
    6. Abstain from sex or be in a long-term monogamous relationship.
    7. A consistent use of condoms can reduce risk.
    8. The Centers for Disease Control recommend
      1. Yearly chlamydia testing of all sexually active women age 25 or younger or older women with new or multiple partners
      2. Retesting after treatment to ensure chlamydia treatment effective

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)www.cdc.gov/std

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Prevention Information Network800-458-5231www.cdcnpin.org

American Social Health Associationwww.ashastd.org

References

Ackley, B. J., & Ladwig, G. B. (2006). Nursing diagnosis handbook: A guide to planning care. St. Louis: Mosby Inc.

Pelvic inflammatory disease. American Social Health Association.

Health matters: Pelvic inflammatory disease. (2005, December). National Institutes of Health: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Credits

Client Teaching Guides for Home Health Care, 2nd ed.

© 2008 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.

www.jbpub.com

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