Pelvic inflammatory disease. Artwork showing the spread of a bacterial infection through the female upper genital tract and the position of the organ in the body. Bacterial infections of the upper genital tract are known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The bacteria spreads from the vagina (bottom right) through the cervix (neck of the womb) to the uterus (womb, triangular). From here the infection may spread to the fallopian tubes (either side of the uterus), the ovaries (blue) and into the peritoneal cavity. Scarring due to PID in the fallopian tubes and ovaries can lead to infertility. Treatment is with antibiotics.