Two different gynecological diseases, but consonant with the names, often cause confusion in women - endometriosis and endometritis. This misconception is most likely due to the origin of the disease. In both cases, the abnormal process is associated with endometrium, the tissue that forms the uterine mucosa. These diseases have some similar symptoms and possible consequences, this is where their similarity ends. Let's try to figure out how endometriosis differs from endometritis and how is their treatment carried out?
Endometriosis in women
According to medical statistics, endometriosis among gynecological diseases is in third place. It used to be that women who had never lived sexually suffered from this ailment, and called it the “nuns' disease." Now he is often diagnosed in women at childbearing age and even in girls. It is considered one of the most mysterious female diseases.
What is endometriosis in women? This is a benign growth of tissue of the inner layer of the uterus, called endometrium, in atypical places - in the ovaries, on the wall and neck of the uterus, in the rectum, bladder, fallopian tubes, peritoneum and other organs, and sometimes in the lung and brain. Attached to the walls of organs, the cells grow and begin to menstruate, as in the uterus. Bleeding causes inflammation and the formation of adhesions.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Having found out what endometriosis is in women, consider how it manifests itself. For some time, the disease can proceed without any signs, and then the following symptoms occur:
- Pain in the lower back and lower abdomen, which intensifies before menstruation.
- Pain and discomfort during intercourse.
- Before menstruation and after it appears spotting dark brown.
- Abundant and prolonged discharge during menstruation.
- Decreased performance, nervousness, poor mood.
The most important symptom of the disease, and sometimes the only one, is infertility.
Causes of Endometriosis
The causes of the disease have not yet been established. There are many hypotheses, but there is no evidence base. Here are some of them:
- Retrograde menstruation - in many women, blood flows into the peritoneum during menstruation, and in healthy women, endometrial growth does not occur.
- Hereditary predisposition - often endometriosis, like many other diseases, is transmitted from generation to generation.
- Weakening of the immune system.
- Hormonal disorders - estrogen promotes the growth of the endometrium.
- Gynecological surgery.
In addition, the occurrence of the disease is affected by: ecology, iron deficiency, impaired liver function, infection of the genitourinary tract.
Treatment of endometriosis in women after 40
With timely diagnosis of the disease, it can be treated with medications. Women after forty years old can still plan a pregnancy, so when the first signs of the disease appear, you need to see a doctor and start treatment, otherwise new foci of endometriosis will cause the formation of cysts, scars and adhesions, which will lead to blockage of the appendages and infertility. Modern medicine offers several methods of treating the disease:
- Elimination of pain. Strong pain during the formation of adhesions, which hold the organs together in an unnatural position, are eliminated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. For this, use Nimesil, Ketoprofen, Ibuprofen.
- Hormone treatment. It has a positive effect, since the disease is hormone-dependent. Such therapy suppresses the secretion of estrogens that affect endometrial growth. For this purpose, contraceptives and drugs are used that make up for progesterone deficiency.
- Surgery is one of the best ways to deal with endometriosis. It is carried out by laparoscopy, cauterizing the lesions with a laser, and adhesions are dissected. With large sizes of endometrioid cysts, a laparotomy is performed (open abdominal surgery). After surgery, hormone treatment is mandatory.
What is endometritis?
Endometritis is an inflammatory disease of the inner layer of the endometrial uterine membrane. It is localized inside the uterus, with improper treatment or lack of therapy, the infection affects the fallopian tubes and ovaries. Most often diagnosed in women of reproductive age. It occurs when an infection enters the uterine cavity, which distinguishes endometritis from endometriosis. In non-pregnancy inflammation, infection occurs with gynecological manipulations or complications after illnesses. After childbirth or abortion, a large wound surface provokes the development of various infections. Two types of endometritis are noted - acute and chronic.
Causes of Endometritis
The main cause of the disease is the penetration of pathogenic bacteria and viruses into the uterine cavity, which distinguishes endometritis from endometriosis, which, with weakened immunity or endometrial integrity disorders, affects the mucous cavity of the organ. Often, inflammation occurs from mechanical damage caused by:
- abortions
- caesarean section;
- gynecological manipulations in the uterine cavity;
- childbirth.
As well as infectious diseases:
- gonorrhea;
- chlamydia
- tuberculosis bacteria;
- intestinal and diphtheria bacillus.
In addition, the infection is provoked by inappropriate hygiene, sexual intercourse, an intrauterine device, frequent and prolonged use of tampons during menstruation.
Symptoms of the disease
The first signs of the disease occur a few days after infection. In acute form of endometritis is observed:
- fever, chills, fever;
- purulent and bloody vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor;
- nausea, vomiting;
- enlarged uterus and pain on palpation.
In addition, the appearance of:
- general weakness;
- headache;
- sudden mood swings;
- pain in the lower abdomen, extending to the anus.
Often there is a violation of the menstrual cycle, the discharge can be scarce or abundant, there is an increase in the period of blood flow, infertility can occur. What is the difference between endometriosis and endometritis? It should be noted that with endometritis atypical cells never contain atypical cells, as with endometriosis, which under favorable conditions can at any time turn into a malignant tumor.
Endometritis treatment
For the treatment of the acute period of the disease, the patient is placed in a hospital and she is prescribed:
- antibiotics - intravenously or intramuscularly;
- antipyretic and pain medication;
- topical antibacterial agents;
- drugs that cause uterine contractions;
- vitamin complexes.
What is the difference in the treatment of endometritis and endometriosis? It consists in the use of antibiotics in the treatment of endometritis. With adequate treatment, the process rarely becomes chronic. But if it occurs, then the treatment is delayed and, in addition to the above treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures are used - UHF, ultrasonic and pulsed waves, electrophoresis. After using antibiotics, hormone therapy is prescribed to restore and normalize the menstrual cycle. In the treatment of endometritis, clinical recommendations include targeted antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy. The combined treatment method is the most effective. The combination of conservative treatment with hormonal drugs with laparoscopy and a recovery period using physiotherapy gives a good result. To completely get rid of the disease, in some cases, diagnostic curettage is used, allowing the endometrium to recover again.
Features of IVF with endometritis
In the treatment of endometritis before IVF, after a preliminary examination, the following therapy is prescribed:
- hormonal support from three to five months;
- in case of impaired blood flow, anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents and phlebotonic agents are used;
- immunomodulating drugs with deviations in the immune system;
- physiotherapy to stimulate blood flow.
At the first symptoms of endometritis, you should immediately consult a doctor, the disease leads to infertility.
Conclusion
You should not think that endometritis and endometriosis are one and the same disease. The first is caused by bacteria and viruses that enter the uterus, and the second is caused by pathological proliferation of tissues resembling the endometrium. Endometritis can be cured with timely medical attention; endometriosis cannot be completely cured by modern means. It sometimes passes after childbirth or spontaneously fades after menopause.