Syndromic management of sexually transmitted diseases. Part 4--The management of lower abdominal pain in women.

The symptom of lower abdominal pain in women is extremely common and does not always indicate the presence of serious illness. However, women with certain serious conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), acute appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy and other complications of pregnancy may present initially with this symptom. Therefore, in managing women with lower abdominal pain care should be taken to exclude any serious condition before dismissing the patient. PID is a condition in which there is infection of the reproductive tract of women above the internal os of the cervix. This usually occurs as a result of an ascending cervical infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and anaerobic bacteria. The immediate and long term effects of PID include salpingitis, pelvic abscess, peritonitis, infertility and predisposition to tubal ectopic pregnancy. Women with lower abdominal pain should be assessed carefully and if PID is the cause they should be treated for gonococcal, chlamydial and anaerobic bacterial infection. Other gynaecological and surgical causes of lower abdominal pain and the immediate complications of PID require urgent referral to a specialist. PID is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.