Determinants of Self-Reported Pelvic Inflammatory Disease among United States Women Aged 15 - 50

In the United States, approximately 20 million new sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections occur each year, with rates annually increasing (Rachel L. Levine, 2022).Among those affected, women are at a higher risk for contracting these new STDs along with experiencing severe health consequences.The increased prevalence is due to the nature of the female anatomy being more exposed and vulnerable to STIs and STDs in comparison to their male counterparts (Van Gerwen et al., 2022).These consequences include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain.The prevalence of self-reported lifetime PID was highest among women with a history of previous STI diagnoses (Amy Curry, 2019).Between 2013 and 2014, an estimated 4.4% of reproductive women aged 18-44 reported a lifetime history of PID, representing approximately 2.5 million women in the U.S. (Amy Curry, 2019;CDC, 2021b).PID is widely recognized by clinicians as both a distinct disease and a serious complication of untreated STDs and infections, including bacterial vaginosis.The preceding infection typically ascends from the lower to the upper genital tract, affecting the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries (CDC, 2021b).This can result in inflammatory damage such as scarring, adhesions, and partial or complete tubal obstruction (Jennings & Krywko, 2021).However, the true prevalence of PID is likely underestimated due to frequent misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis, stemming from inconsistent