Reviewed by Veena Angle, MBBS, MD and Physician Jolene Chong

How Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Can Affect Your Reproductive Health

Published July 19, 2024| 6 min read

Understand the symptoms, uncover the causes, and discover natural therapies for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in this article. Read through for vital information on safeguarding your reproductive health against PID.

Did you know that a long-term complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the upper genital tract in women, is infertility? According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, as many as one in ten women with PID become infertile. Women can get the infection at any age, but young and sexually active women are at the highest risk.

Risk factors include intercourse with a person having symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as Chlamydia, a history of STDs or pelvic inflammatory disease, unprotected sexual intercourse and new or multiple partners.

Learn what causes pelvic inflammatory disease and how you can get treated for it.

Causes of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Woman receiving abdominal massage — Pelvic inflammatory disease is a leading cause of infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

You get PID when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. When the infection causes inflammation of the fallopian tubes, it can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pain. Many bacteria, including Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis, can cause pelvic inflammatory disease.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), PID occurs due to internal and external causes. TCM Physician Jolene Chong explains, “Internal causes for PID include disharmony of yin-yang and insufficient healthy qi. External causes include Heat-Dampness and Heat toxins invading the thoroughfare and conception vessels, uterus, and uterine vessels, causing blood blockages and Blood Stasis”.

TCM, like Western Medicine, categorizes PID into two types – acute and chronic. “Acute PID is usually associated with the invasion of pathogenic toxins and the development of toxic Heat. Chronic PID is associated with imbalances caused by the accumulation of Heat-Dampness, Cold-Dampness and qi and Blood Stagnation in the Chong-Ren meridians,” informs Physician Chong.

Symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

The condition is often undiagnosed even though it can cause many symptoms, and many women may not notice these signs. Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include mild lower abdominal or pelvic pain that worsens after sexual intercourse, abnormal uterine bleeding, increased frequency of urination, pain while urinating, and abnormal uterine bleeding. Fever may or may not be present.

Physician Chong mentions that the symptoms are linked to infections, disturbed immunity, prolonged hours of standing, overworking, a hectic lifestyle, increased sexual activity, and poor blood circulation. Should you experience any infections, do seek medical help from a doctor.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Treatment

Acute PID may require hospitalisation and emergency use of antibiotics or surgery. As the bacteria responsible for the infection is often difficult to identify, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used to treat the condition. On the other hand, a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal prescription has been proven to be an effective therapy for chronic pelvic inflammatory disease.

Acupuncture

This pelvic inflammatory disease treatment promotes metabolism and circulation, balances and improves immunity, purifies the meridians, harmonises qi and Blood, stimulates blood circulation, enhances the permeability of the cellular membranes, and accelerates absorption of inflammation.

It is recommended you consult with an acupuncturist for treatment if you have pelvic inflammatory disease.

“Patients experience relief from abdominal pain, lower abdominal bloating, discharge from the vagina, menstrual pain, irregular menstruation and fatigue,” says Physician Chong.

She suggests the following acupuncture points for the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease: San yin jiao (SP6, 三阴交), qi hai (CV6, 气海), guan yuan (CV4, 关元), gui lai (ST29, 归来), xue hai (SP10, 血海), yin ling quan (SP9, 阴陵泉), zhong ji (CV3, 中级), shui dao (ST28, 水道), tai xi (KD3, 太溪), fu liu (KD7, 复溜), and shen shu (BL23, 肾俞).

San Yin Jiao is located four finger widths above the ankle.

Located along the midline of the lower abdomen, 2 fingers-breadth below the navel. It dispels pathogens for improved qi and blood circulation within the lower abdominal cavity and revitalises kidneys’ yang energy.

Located along the midline of the lower abdomen, 4 fingers-breadth below the navel. It dispels pathogens for improved qi and blood circulation within the lower abdominal cavity and revitalises Kidneys’ yang energy.

On the lower abdomen, four finger-breadths below the center of the umbilicus, two finger-breadths lateral to the anterior median line.

To locate Xue Hai (SP10), flex the knee and press the spot 2 fingers-breadth above the superior medial border of the patella on the bulge of the medial portion of quadriceps femoris.

Located on the medial side of the shank, at the depression posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia.

Located on the anterior midline, 4 finger-breadths below the umbilicus.

On the lower abdomen, two finger-breadths lateral to the midline and three finger-breadths inferior to the navel.

3D illustration of the tai xi acupressure point — Located on the tibial aspect of the leg, posterior to the medial border of the tibia, three finger widths inferior to the Yin Ling Quan acupoint.

On the medial aspect of the lower leg, in the depression two finger-breadths above tai xi (KI3), on the anterior border of the Achilles tendon.

Located on the back, 1.5 finger-breaths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

Herbal remedies

When acupuncture is coupled with Chinese herbal medicines, it produces better results than when used alone. The treatment prevents the thickening of the lining of the uterus and the development of pelvic masses. It can also prevent future relapses of PID.

Physician Chong recommends the following herbal remedies to her patients depending on the syndrome diagnosis:

Acute PID caused by the invasion of pathogenic toxins:

Honeysuckle flower (shan yin hua, 山银花), red peony root (chi shao, 赤芍), weeping Forsythia (lian qiao, 连翘), Herba patriniae (bai jiang cao, 败酱草), and Chinese liquorice root (gan cao, 甘草).

Acute PID caused by excessive toxic Heat:

Red sage root (dan shen, 丹参), Ciotis chinensis (huang lian, 黄连), peony root (dan pi, 丹皮), Radix rehmanniae (sheng di, 生地), and Scrophularia (xuan shen, 玄参).

Chronic PID caused by Heat-Dampness:

Honeysuckle flower (shan yin hua, 山银花), weeping Forsythia (lian qiao, 连翘), Semen coicis (yi yi ren, 薏苡仁), Cortex phellodendry (huang bo, 黄柏), and Fructus gardeniae (zhi zi, 栀子).

Chronic PID caused by Cold-Dampness:

Radix aconiti lateralis praeparata (fu zi, 附子), Szechwan Lovage Rhizome (chuan xiong, 川芎), Atractylodes Rhizome (cang zhu, 苍术), cassia twig (gui zhi, 桂枝), and Rhizoma zingiberis preparata (pao jiang, 炮姜).

Chronic PID caused by Qi and Blood Stagnation:

Rhizoma corydalis (yan hu suo, 延胡索), Fructus toosendan (chuan lian zi, 川楝子), peach kernel (tao ren, 桃仁), Radix paeoniae alba (bai shao, 白芍), and nutgrass galingale rhizome (xiang fu, 香附).

Moxibustion

Another traditional remedy used for PID is moxibustion, mostly in patients experiencing Cold-Dampness syndrome. “It stimulates the blood circulation through its warmth, causes the inflammation to subside, and has the effect of bidirectional regulation on the body function state. It has also been found that moxibustion can adjust the function of our main organs, promote metabolism, change the blood composition, enhance immunity and improve health” explains Physician Chong.

She recommends the following acupoints for treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease using moxibustion: Qi hai (CV6, 气海), guan yuan (CV4, 关元), zhong ji (CV3, 中级), zi gong (EXCA1, 子宫), and shen shu (BL23, 肾俞).

Located at lower abdomen, 4 inches below navel and 3 inches from middle line.

Pelvic inflammatory disease can throw your life off balance. Look out for the symptoms and get treated early. Remember, early treatment can prevent infertility and other complications of the disease.