Causes of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease is caused by bacteria. Bacteria can move upward, from a woman's vagina or cervix (opening to the uterus, or womb) into her fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus, causing infection. Many types of bacteria can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. But, bacteria found in two common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) - gonorrhea and chlamydia - are the most frequent causes of pelvic inflammatory disease. After being infected, it can take from a few days to a few months to develop pelvic inflammatory disease.

Although rare, a woman can develop pelvic inflammatory disease without having an STD. No one is sure why this happens, but normal bacteria found in the vagina and on the cervix can cause pelvic inflammatory disease.