Complications of STIs 275
Medicines for Pelvic Infection (PID)
This infection is usually caused by a mix of germs, so more than one medicine must be used to
cure it.
Medicine
How much to take
When and how to take
cefixime 400 ����������������������������������������������������� mg by ���������������������������������������������������������������� mouth in a single dose
or ceftriaxone �������������������������������������250 mg inject ���������������������������������������������������������������� into muscle as a single dose
or spectinomycin �����������������������������2 grams (2000 mg) inject ������������������������������ into muscle as a single dose
AND
doxycycline ���������������������������������������������100 mg by ���������������������������������������������������������������� mouth, 2 times a day for 14 days
(do not use doxycycline if you are pregnant and avoid using it if you are breastfeeding)
or azithromycin ���������������������������������1 gram (1000 mg) by ���������������������������������� mouth as a single dose,
(take azithromycin with food, safe during pregnancy)
and a second dose 1 week (7 days) later
or erythromycin �������������������������������500 mg by ���������������������������������������������������������������� mouth, 4 times a day for 14 days
(safe during pregnancy)
or amoxicillin ���������������������������������������500 mg by ���������������������������������������������������������������� mouth, 3 times a day for 14 days
(amoxicillin can be used if you are pregnant and azithromycin and erythromycin are not available)
AND
metronidazole �������������������������������������400 to 500 mg by ������������������������������������������ mouth, 3 times a day for 14 days
(avoid metronidazole in the first 3 months of pregnancy)
Also treat the woman’s partner with the medicines in the box for ‘AT RISK for an STI’ on page 268.
Important Do not drink alcohol during the time you are taking metronidazole.
My husband taught school in a town far away from our village and returned
home to visit me only a few times a year. After one of his visits, I became very ill
with fever and a terrible pain in my abdomen. I did not know what was causing
my sickness.... I tried remedies from the local healer, but they did not work. I did
not want to leave my village to look for help because I did not want to leave my
children, and I did not have much money. I got so sick that my neighbors thought I
was going to die. So they took me in a truck to the nearest hospital, 90 miles away.
The doctor at the hospital said I had gonorrhea, and that this had caused a
bad infection inside my abdomen. He said I would need expensive surgery
and many days of medicines to cure me. He also said
I would probably not be able to have more children.
Now, I only wish I had taken the right medicines when
I first became sick.
—Central African Republic
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012