Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: prevalence in women treated at a reference hospital in Paraguay during the first half of 2026

Abstract

Introduction: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the most common gynecological infections affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by infection and inflammation of the upper female genital tract, involving the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. In Paraguay, PID remains an important cause of gynecological consultation, hospitalization, and reproductive complications such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. Objective: To determine the prevalence and the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease in a referral hospital in Paraguay during the first semester of 2026. Methods: An observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 85 medical records of patients diagnosed with PID between January and June 2026 were analyzed. Sociodemographic, clinical, and associated risk factors were evaluated. Results: The prevalence of PID was 18.4% among gynecological consultations performed during the study period. The predominant age group was 20 to 29 years (47.1%). Pelvic pain was the most frequent symptom (89.4%), followed by vaginal discharge (72.9%) and fever (37.6%). A history of sexually transmitted infections was present in 41.2% of the patients. Conclusions: PID mainly affected young women of reproductive age. Early diagnosis and timely access to treatment are essential to reduce reproductive complications and improve the sexual and reproductive health of Paraguayan women.