Association between alcohol consumption levels and pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common and serious infection affecting women’s reproductive health, which may result in severe consequences, such as infertility. Research published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research investigated the association between alcohol consumption levels and the odds of PID prevalence, providing insights that could inform public health policies.The US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2020 was used to examine the associations between alcohol consumption levels and the odds of PID prevalence.
Compared with participants who never consumed alcohol, alcohol consumption increased the odds of PID prevalence. The odds of PID prevalence increased also with an increase in the level of alcohol consumption. Compared to non-drinkers, the odds ratios (OR) for PID were 1.89 (95% CI: 1.23-2.92) for mild drinkers, 1.94 (95% CI: 1.24-3.04) for moderate drinkers, and 2.01 (95% CI: 1.27-3.19) for heavy drinkers, indicating an increased prevalence of PID by 89, 94, and 101%, respectively. This association was consistently observed across the study population.
Alcohol consumption levels were positively related to the odds of PID prevalence among adult females in the USA. The researchers comment that reducing alcohol consumption and cultivating good living habits will likely help prevent PID in the general population.
Source: Wang, D., Xiong, J. Association between alcohol consumption levels and pelvic inflammatory disease: Findings from the NHANES 2013–2020. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 51(1):e16188, 2025.