How common is pelvic pain in pelvic inflammatory disease?

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection affecting reproductive organs, often involving the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. Pain may be felt in the lower abdomen or pelvis, on one or both sides, and may worsen during sex or movement. Some people have mild symptoms or no obvious symptoms.

Other possible signs include unusual vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods or after sex, painful urination, fever, or feeling unwell. These features overlap with other conditions, so pelvic pain alone cannot identify pelvic inflammatory disease.

Contact a clinician promptly for pelvic pain with unusual discharge, bleeding, fever, painful sex, or urinary discomfort. Be ready to discuss symptom onset, menstrual timing, pregnancy possibility, recent sexual health concerns, and medicines or allergies.

Testing may help look for infection and other causes. If treatment is prescribed, take it exactly as directed and ask whether partners or follow-up testing should be discussed. Avoid sex until a clinician explains when it is safe to resume.

Seek urgent care for severe or worsening pain, high fever or chills, repeated vomiting, fainting, heavy bleeding, confusion, or feeling suddenly very unwell. Pregnancy or possible pregnancy with pelvic pain also warrants prompt assessment.

Could an infection explain my pelvic pain and discharge? Which tests are needed? Should my partner be assessed? When can I resume sex? Which changes should send me to urgent care?