What are the symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease?

Pelvic inflammatory disease is categorized into acute and chronic types. The typical symptoms of acute pelvic inflammatory disease include persistent lower abdominal pain, which worsens during movement or sexual intercourse. This may be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, and loss of appetite. Vaginal discharge significantly increases and may have an unpleasant odor. In severe cases, pelvic abscesses may form, causing symptoms of pressure on the bladder and rectum, such as frequent urination, painful urination, difficulty urinating, and tenesmus. The symptoms of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease are relatively milder and mainly include a feeling of heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen, along with soreness in the lumbosacral region. These symptoms tend to worsen after physical exertion, sexual intercourse, and around the time of menstruation. In addition, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease can lead to menstrual irregularities, such as increased menstrual flow and prolonged menstrual periods. Women with long-standing disease may also experience symptoms of neurasthenia, including fatigue, general malaise, and insomnia. Prompt medical attention should be sought once symptoms appear to avoid delaying treatment.