Diagnosis

There is no one test that can accurately diagnose pelvic inflammatory disease. Instead, your doctor will rely on a combination of findings from:

• Your medical history. Your doctor will likely ask about your sexual habits, history of sexually transmitted infections and method of birth control.
• Signs and symptoms. Tell your doctor about any symptoms you're experiencing, even if they're mild.
• A pelvic exam. During the exam, your doctor will check your pelvic region for tenderness and swelling. Your doctor may also use cotton swabs to take fluid samples from your vagina and cervix. The samples will be tested at a lab for signs of infection and organisms such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
• Blood and urine tests. These tests may be used to test for pregnancy, HIV or other sexually transmitted infections, or to measure white blood cell counts or other markers of infection or inflammation.
• Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to create images of your reproductive organs.

If the diagnosis is still unclear, your doctor may recommend additional tests, such as:

• Laparoscopy. During this procedure, your doctor inserts a thin, lighted instrument through a small incision in your abdomen to view your pelvic organs.
• Endometrial biopsy. During this procedure, your doctor inserts a thin tube into the uterus to remove a small sample of endometrial tissue. The tissue is tested for signs of infection and inflammation.