Recently, the diagnosis of "infertility" is quite common. One of its main causes is endometritis disease. From its manifestations, women of different ages suffer. However, the disease has recently become “younger,” according to doctors. This is due to the deterioration of the sanitary standard of living of the population, the increase in cases of unprotected sexual intercourse and regular episodes of hypothermia due to a decrease in immunity.
What is endometritis in women?
Before answering the question, it is necessary to understand the anatomy of the female reproductive organ. The uterus has 3 layers: endometrium, myometrium and perimetry. Pathology develops in the first or inner layer. It also has two parts. Its functional or superficial layer tends to be rejected during each menstrual cycle, and a new superficial one ripens from the basal (sprout).
The uterus is reliably protected by natural mechanisms from the effects of infections. We are talking about the anatomical features of the structure containing mucus immunoglobulins in the cavity of the organ and cervical canal, the acidic environment of the vagina, and local immune defense. When such a natural balance is disturbed, a disease develops.
What is endometritis in women? This is an inflammatory process in the mucous layer of the uterus that occurs due to septic infection or exposure to other pathogenic microorganisms. In medical practice, it is customary to distinguish between two types of disease: acute and chronic. The first manifests itself 2-3 days after infection, and the second is often asymptomatic. Chronic endometritis mainly develops against the background of the absence or untimely treatment of the acute form of the disease.
Main reasons
In most cases, the causes of endometritis are fungal, bacterial or viral. Pathogens penetrate the reproductive organ through the vagina, cervix or together with the blood stream. Rarely, a disease develops against the background of exposure to only one type of microbes, more often there are several bacteria (gonococci, chlamydia, E. coli, etc.). As for viral pathogens, the most common are HPV, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus.
Mucosal infection alone is not enough. Doctors distinguish a group of factors, the presence of which increases the likelihood of developing endometritis:
- curettage and abortion;
- a history of hysteroscopy;
- the presence of an intrauterine device;
- prolonged labor (more than 12 hours);
- regular douching;
- sex during menstruation.
Getting into the uterine cavity, pathogenic microflora provokes the launch of complex reactions leading to the development of inflammation. In such conditions, the genital organ loses its ability to fully function. As a result, a woman has signs of endometritis, forcing to see a doctor. Not immediately cured acute form of the disease can transform into a chronic, cause infertility.
Symptoms of the acute form of the disease
The first manifestations of the disease occur 3-7 days after infection. For example, after childbirth or abortion, other interventions. Typical symptoms of endometritis in women in the acute phase are as follows:
- fever;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- vaginal discharge with impurities of pus;
- bleeding.
The pathological process begins with a sudden increase in temperature to 38-40 degrees. Chills and general weakness appear, appetite worsens. In the inguinal zone, an increase in lymph nodes is possible. Against the background of high temperature, pain occurs in the lower abdomen of a pulling character. They can give to the tailbone or lower back. Well stopping by taking analgesics.
As endometritis progresses in women, symptoms change. Vaginal discharge appears with impurities of pus or blood. They have an unpleasant smell and are plentiful enough.
After a miscarriage or an abortion, the disease has its own characteristics. 5-7 days after the manipulations, the woman's condition deteriorates sharply. The temperature rises, bleeding develops. In especially serious cases, a pyometer occurs when there is an accumulation of purulent secretion in the uterine cavity.
Symptoms of Chronic Endometritis
What is chronic endometritis in women, most will know only after admission to a gynecologist. At the initial stage, the disease is asymptomatic. Over time, the following health problems appear:
- constant pulling pain in the lower abdomen;
- menstrual irregularities.
Violation of the menstrual cycle manifests itself in the form of irregular uterine bleeding. They can be of varying intensity. A few days before the date of the alleged menstruation, spotting usually occurs. Menstruation itself in case of chronic endometritis becomes painful with copious discharge.
For a long time, the current pathological process becomes the reason for the inability to conceive and bear a child. The inflamed uterine mucosa does not accept a fertilized egg, causing a miscarriage in the early stages. Against the background of the disease, an ectopic pregnancy also often occurs.
Endometritis and pregnancy
The sensitivity of the endometrium and reproductive functions at the initial stage of the development of the disease remain at a satisfactory level. Their effectiveness is determined by the state of immunity, the presence of concomitant health problems and the activity of infectious agents. Therefore, at the initial stage of development of endometritis, pregnancy is possible.
However, in the case of a chronic disease, the ovum is difficult to attach to the inflamed area of the uterus. If this process is successful, pregnancy can occur with complications. Infection in the female body can provoke the destruction of placental defense and damage to fetal tissues. This is dangerous by improperly laying fabrics. In addition, the inflamed and pus-covered area of the mucous of the genital organ secretes special substances that can change the normal development of pregnancy and provoke the following complications:
- miscarriage;
- the occurrence of placental insufficiency;
- development of habitual miscarriage;
- postpartum hemorrhages.
To avoid undesirable consequences, doctors recommend that women at the stage of pregnancy planning undergo a comprehensive examination of the body. If necessary, you will need to treat all identified diseases.
Postpartum endometritis
Postpartum endometritis in women occurs in the first week after the baby is born. Most likely, its appearance with a manual examination of the uterus, a long anhydrous period or after a cesarean section. The severity of the disease can be:
- Lung when symptoms appear 5 to 12 days after delivery. The general condition of the woman practically does not worsen. Perhaps a slight increase in temperature, soreness of the uterus during palpation.
- Moderate According to reviews, symptoms of endometritis in women appear 2-7 days after birth. The temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, muscle aches occur, pain in the lower abdomen is disturbing. Lochia with impurities of pus, accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
- Heavy. Symptoms of the disease develop on the next day of the postpartum period. The temperature rises to 40 degrees. The general condition is rapidly deteriorating: there is no appetite, headaches and sleep disturbances occur. Urine takes on a hue of dark beer; its excretion is reduced. Lochia has a putrid odor.
The postpartum form of the disease can occur on its own, as I am a complication after pregnancy and childbirth.
Diagnostic Methods
When symptoms of uterine endometritis appear in a woman, you should immediately consult a gynecologist. Acute inflammation of the uterus is a rather dangerous condition. The sooner treatment is started, the higher the chances of a favorable outcome.
Diagnosis of the disease begins with a study of the patient's history. The doctor may ask some clarifying questions about the regularity of menstruation, the presence of intrauterine interventions, previous births and abortions. Mandatory is the examination on the gynecological chair. In this case, the following signs of endometritis in women can be detected:
- an increase in the uterus in size;
- organ densification;
- sensitivity of the side walls during palpation.
In addition, blood and urine tests are prescribed, a smear on the microflora from the vagina, back sowing from the cervical canal, ultrasound of the pelvic organs. According to the results of the examination, the gynecologist can judge the severity of the disease, prescribe treatment.
Treatment options
Treatment of endometritis in women after 40 years and up to this age is selected taking into account the microorganisms detected during the diagnosis. Its main task is to restore the affected layer of the uterus and reproduction.
At the first stage, antibiotics and immunomodulators are usually prescribed. The second uses metabolic therapy and various physiotherapy procedures. In the case of a chronic course of the disease, procedures such as electrophoresis, pulsed ultrasound, magnetotherapy, etc., have proven themselves well.
Drug use
Treatment of the acute form of the disease is carried out in a hospital. For the entire period of therapy, bed rest, rest and quality sleep are recommended. In addition, it is necessary to take multivitamins, adhere to an easily digestible diet. After stopping the symptoms, the patient is usually sent home under the supervision of a local gynecologist.
Drug therapy involves taking antibiotics. With endometritis in women, drugs are prescribed taking into account the identified pathogen. As a rule, cephalosporins are used. These are broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against most known pathogens. Cephalosporins are often combined with macrolides and other medicines.
The duration of such therapy is 7-10 days. According to indications, antispasmodics and analgesics can be prescribed. After taking antibiotics, it is recommended that you take probiotics to restore the vaginal microflora.
Treatment of chronic endometritis in women also involves the appointment of antibiotics, but already on an outpatient basis. If necessary, therapy is supplemented with hormonal agents, for example, in case of exacerbation of the pathology. The scope of activities depends on the nature of menstrual and generative dysfunction. The restoration of a full two-phase cycle is an indicator of the effectiveness of the therapy.
Physiotherapy Prescription
Various physiotherapeutic procedures show good results in eliminating symptoms and treating endometritis in women. We are talking about both an acute form of the disease and a chronic one. All procedures are carried out in a hospital. The most effective are the following:
- Magnetotherapy. The magnetic field acting on the body improves reflex activity in the tissues. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to increase immunity, stop pain and the inflammatory process. Sessions last 10-15 minutes, and the entire course lasts from 10 to 20 days. During the exposure, the patient may experience dizziness, which is a variant of the norm.
- Electrophoresis Treatment is based on the use of current, which allows medicines to enter the lesion faster. With its help, it is possible to eliminate puffiness and inflammation in just 15 days of regular sessions.
Physiotherapy is indicated at all stages of the disease. With its acute form, it is used only at the recovery stage. The main contraindications are: the period of pregnancy, the presence of malignant neoplasms in the body, exacerbation of pathology.
Features of hirudotherapy for endometritis
You can stop the symptoms of chronic endometritis in women with hirudotherapy. This is an auxiliary treatment, which is used in combination with the traditional one. The composition of the saliva of leeches contains antibacterial components that kill the infection, well remove inflammation, stimulate blood circulation.
Hirudotherapy also helps prevent infertility, strengthen immunity and normalize hormones. During treatment, leeches are placed on the lower abdomen and in the vagina. In about 30 minutes they manage to get enough, after which they themselves disappear. Places of bites after the procedure are covered with a bandage and a sterile dressing. The course of treatment is usually 15 procedures.
Surgical intervention
Surgical treatment of endometritis in women, according to doctors, is recommended after an abortion or complicated delivery. In such cases, the uterine cavity is scraped, during which the remains of the ovum or placenta are removed. After the intervention, a woman is prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics, analgesics. To restore menstrual function, various physiotherapy procedures are indicated.
Surgical treatment is also recommended in the presence of intrauterine synechia. These are special strands that form in the cavity of the genital organ against a background of chronic inflammation. They interfere with the natural conception of the child, the normal course of pregnancy. Often they cause constant pain in the lower abdomen. Intrauterine synechia is separated during surgery. Today, laparoscopic interventions are increasingly used for this purpose.
Help traditional medicine
Treatment of endometritis in women after 40 years is often limited to alternative medicine prescriptions. However, this approach is incorrect, since only with drugs or through surgery you can overcome the ailment. Folk remedies are best used as an addition to the main course of therapy. Below are the most popular recipes:
- Sea buckthorn oil. To use it, you need to take a small piece of the bandage, wrap a cotton pad in it. The resulting swab should be dipped in sea buckthorn oil. They put him on all night. The duration of use is no more than two weeks. Sea buckthorn oil helps relieve inflammation and heal tissue.
- Fern. To prepare the broth, you will need 20 g of raw material, pour 280 ml of cold water, boil and strain. This tool is recommended to take 70 ml 3-4 times a day. The duration of treatment is 10-15 days.
- Aloe. To prepare a healing tincture, you should mix 400 g of honey, the same amount of aloe juice and 0.5 l of wine. The resulting product should be left in a warm place for about 2 weeks. Tincture should be taken 20 g twice a day before meals.
How to treat endometritis in women and do it right, the gynecologist should tell after confirming the diagnosis and undergoing a comprehensive examination. Trying to independently eliminate the disease with folk remedies is unacceptable. In addition, some recipes for endometritis have contraindications.
Complications and consequences
How long does the treatment of endometritis in a woman last? Both the symptoms and the presence of concomitant health problems and the severity of the disease determine this factor. As a rule, this period takes from two weeks to several months. A severe form of the disease requires the use of a wide course of drugs, therefore it requires a lot of time. The situation is different with a mild variant of endometritis.
Inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus is a serious gynecological disease. Therefore, rehabilitation after treatment also takes a certain period of time. Pathology is almost always accompanied by a violation of menstrual and reproductive functions. In especially serious cases, the infection spreads to neighboring organs. If curettage has been prescribed, recovery takes about 2-4 weeks. When the disease has developed for several years, rehabilitation can last up to six months.
When the acute form transforms into a chronic one, infertility and even purulent inflammation develops. The latter can spread to the ovaries and fallopian tubes, which is very dangerous for health. If you do not deal with the relief of symptoms and treatment of endometritis in women, according to doctors, the following complications develop over time:
- The appearance of adhesions in the fallopian tubes, interfering with the movement of sperm to the egg.
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Prevention Methods
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- Constantly engaged in strengthening immunity. To this end, it is enough to eat right, avoid hypothermia, engage in feasible sports, abandon addictions. In agreement with the doctor, you can take multivitamin complexes, especially during epidemics.
When implementing the above recommendations, the risk of a disease is reduced to almost zero. However, when the initial signs of inflammation of the genital organ appear (menstruation, pain in the lower abdomen), you should immediately contact a gynecologist and undergo an examination. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe treatment. The treatment of any disease at an early stage is the key to a quick recovery and the absence of negative health consequences.