What does antibiotic treatment for pelvic infection treat?

Treatment may be used when bacteria affect the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries or tissues around a caesarean wound. Depending on the diagnosis, this includes chlamydia, gonorrhoea, pelvic inflammatory disease and endometritis. Antibiotics are selected for the likely organisms and may need to cover more than one type.

Bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis require diagnosis-specific treatment. Antibiotics do not treat every cause of pelvic pain, discharge or fever, and they do not reverse scar tissue that an earlier infection may have caused. Testing and examination help distinguish these conditions.

Take the medicine exactly as prescribed and finish the course unless the prescriber changes it. Avoid sex until your clinician says it is safe; partners may need testing or treatment when a sexually transmitted infection is possible. Do not share leftover antibiotics or use them for a new episode without assessment.

Arrange follow-up if symptoms do not start improving, return after treatment or occur repeatedly. Tell the clinician about pregnancy, allergies and other medicines, including supplements.

Seek urgent medical help for severe or worsening lower abdominal pain, fainting, heavy bleeding, high fever, vomiting, confusion, a rapidly spreading rash or feeling extremely unwell. These symptoms can signal a serious infection or another emergency requiring hospital assessment.

Ask which infection is suspected, whether testing is needed, whether a partner needs treatment, when sex is safe again, and what improvement should look like.