This is the inflammation of the female reproductive organs caused by bacterial infection.
In most cases, the infection is produced by Gonococcus or Chlamydia, which is why it is associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The infection may run without any symptoms. When symptoms appear, the most common ones include fever, foul-smelling and foul looking vaginal discharge and pain or tenderness in the pelvis, the lower abdomen or lower back.
It is diagnosed through clinical history collection, full genital examination, laboratory tests, vaginal discharge culture and/or gynecological ultrasound or CT scan.
Treatment is based on pain killers and antibiotics. If present, intrauterine devices (IUD) must be removed and surgery may be required in severe cases.
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