A doctor diagnoses PID during a pelvic examination. During the exam, the doctor will probably take a sample of pus from inside the vagina using a cotton swab. The sample will be analyzed to determine if PID is present. If enough symptoms exist to indicate PID, the doctor will use laparoscopy or ultrasound to eliminate other disorders similar to PID.PID must be treated as soon as it is discovered, as it can lead to serious complications, including infertility. Oral antibiotics are the traditional method of treatment. Tetracycline, erythromycin, and doxycycline are among the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for PID. If a woman does not respond to oral antibiotics, the doctor may recommend administering them intravenously.
Most women are treated on an outpatient basis, but up to one fourth of women with PID must be hospitalized. If a woman is pregnant, is an adolescent, or has complications, she may be hospitalized and given antibiotics intravenously.
