Question: What causes pelvic inflammatory disease? Dana

Answer: Dear Dana,

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) refers to the infection of the female reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries). The most common way of getting PID is by having sexual relations with a partner that has sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

In certain cases, women not exposed to STIs also get pelvic inflammatory disease and the cause is not known.

PID can also happen if bacteria infects the reproductive organs due to giving birth, having a miscarriage, abortion or insertion of a intrauterine device, although it is not common.