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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffTo reduce your risk of pelvic inflammatory disease:
- Practice safe sex. Use condoms every time you have sex, limit your number of partners and ask about a potential partner's sexual history.
- Get tested. If you're at risk of an STD, such as chlamydia, make an appointment with your doctor for testing. Set up a regular screening schedule with your doctor, if necessary. Investigating and treating an STD early gives you the best chances of avoiding pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Request that your partner be tested. If you have pelvic inflammatory disease or an STD, advise your partner to be tested and, if necessary, treated. This can prevent the spread of STDs and possible recurrence of PID.
- Don't douche. Douching upsets the delicate balance of bacteria in your vagina.
- Pay attention to hygiene habits. Wipe from front to back after urinating or having a bowel movement to avoid introducing bacteria from your colon into the vagina.
References
- Pelvic inflammatory disease fact sheet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
- Hemsell DL. Gynecologic infections. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3150553. Accessed April 1, 2009.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp077.cfm. Accessed April 1, 2009.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease: Frequently asked questions. The National Women's Health Information Center. http://womenshealth.gov/faq/pelvic-inflammatory-disease.cfm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
- Trigg BG, et al. Sexually transmitted infections and pelvic inflammatory disease in women. The Medical Clinics of North America. 2008;92:1083.
- Livengood CH, et al. Clinical features and diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 31, 2009.
- Livengood CH. Pathogenesis of and risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 31, 2009.
