As women, we are taught to maintain a healthy body by eating the right foods, exercising, and scheduling regular checkups with the doctor. However, several diseases affect the female human body. Pelvic inflammatory disease is one of many diseases that affect the female reproductive system and is one that women should be concerned about. Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infectious disease that invades the female reproductive organs such as the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Pelvic inflammatory disease, also known as PID, is caused by infectious bacteria such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea and other bacteria. Bacteria that travel from the vagina to the cervix will cause inflammation, pain, damage and infertility. Women susceptible to PID will develop the disease if they have unprotected sex with someone infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea. However, not all women will develop PID and it is not known why. In rare circumstances, PID will occur due to the following events, such as abortion, miscarriage, IUD insertion, Pap test procedure, and cervical treatment in case of an abnormal Pap test (Editorial Team from familydoctor.org, 2008). Pelvic inflammatory disease is the most serious. common and serious infection that women can get. This disease causes many problems for more than a million women every year, and billions of dollars are spent on diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, it is responsible for approximately 250,000 hospitalizations each year. Women aged 25 or younger and sexually active are at risk of developing PID. Other risk factors include a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, multiple sexual partners, unprotected sex, sex with a young...... middle of paper ......us disease (personal from the Mayo Clinic, 2009). In conclusion, it is important for women to be aware of the seriousness of pelvic inflammatory disease and to be concerned about the damage it can cause to the female reproductive system. (2008, June). In md Robert B. Kelly (Ed.), Pelvic inflammatory disease. Retrieved August 5, 2010 from http://www.familydoctor.org Martin, Eva. (1999, July 23). Pelvic inflammatory disease. Retrieved August 9, 2010 from http://www.uimc.discoveryhospital.comMayo Clinic Staff. (May 23, 2009). Pelvic inflammatory disease [article]. Accessed August 9, 2010 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/DS00402/METHODReyes, Iris. (February 4, 2009). In Howes (Ed.), Pelvic inflammatory disease [Online article]. Retrieved August 8, 2010 from http://www.emedicine.medscape.com