What are the complications of PID?

Early complications of PID include:

  • Sepsis
  • Abscess formation
  • Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. Infection spreads to the liver capsule causing peri-hepatitis and right upper quadrant pain. This is a rare complication associated with Chlamydia trachomatis.

Long term complications of PID due to scarring and adhesion formation include:

  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Infertility
  • Ectopic pregnancy

More severe and recurrent infections increase the risk of complications. Early treatment can reduce the risk of infertility.5

Learning bite: Early treatment can reduce the risk of infertility, chronic pain and ectopic pregnancy.

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