Beyond Inflammation: A Comprehensive Outlook on the Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an inflammatory process of the upper genital tract that is mainly caused by sexually transmitted infections (STI). It can cause tubal factor infertility, ectopic pregnancy, or chronic pelvic pain. In recent years, its incidence has increased annually owing to various factors, such as sexually transmitted diseases and intrauterine surgery. Although empirical treatment, such as antibiotics or surgery, can alleviate the symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease, the obstetric outcome is not ideal and the recurrence rate is high, which places a heavy physical and mental burden on women. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a complementary therapy to Western medicine that has a complete theoretical and practical system and has attracted international attention because of its excellent curative effect. An increasing number of people are accepting and trying to use traditional Chinese medicine to treat gynecological diseases, including infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, and PID; however, its efficacy and mechanism are still controversial. Therefore, this article summarizes the related research on traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in the treatment of PID for clinical reference.