Inflamed ovaries symptoms. How to treat inflammation of the uterine appendages and ovaries. Diagnosis of chronic ovarian inflammation in women

Inflammation of the ovaries is fraught with considerable danger, because for a woman’s reproductive health such a disease can end very badly.

If you believe the statistics, about 20% of women who encountered this pathology were subsequently unable to get pregnant or experienced considerable difficulties in this regard.

Therefore, for any manifestation of symptoms of inflammation, an urgent consultation with a gynecologist is required, because the outcome of the disease directly depends on the timeliness of treatment.

What is ovarian inflammation in a woman?

Inflammation of the ovaries (or oophoritis) is an inflammatory process affecting the paired female reproductive glands, which is often accompanied by simultaneous salpingitis - inflammation of the uterine (fallopian) tubes. Moreover, both one of the ovaries (with unilateral inflammation) and both (with bilateral inflammation) can become inflamed.

Causes of the disease

The cause of inflammation can be the causative agent of chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, mycoplasmosis or even tuberculosis, it can also be caused by opportunistic microflora (streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, candida, etc.).

If you have pain in the lower abdomen, you should immediately consult a doctor

However, not only bacteria can provoke the disease or its exacerbation, but also hypothermia, childbirth, the use of an IUD, surgical termination of pregnancy, unprofessional diagnostic or surgical manipulations in the genitals.

Typically, inflammation is not the root cause, but a consequence of the spread of an existing infection in the body from the fallopian tubes, cervical canal or uterus. Less commonly, pathogens penetrate the gonads through lymph and blood (for example, with appendicitis, tuberculosis, tonsillitis, or even untreated caries).

When the disease occurs, the infectious process gradually spreads from the uterine cavity to the fallopian tubes. As a result of this, the fallopian tube begins to thicken, lengthen, pus is released and adhesions form. If the disease is not cured at this stage, the ovaries will be the next to be involved in the inflammatory process. As a result, the fallopian tube and ovary become fused. It happens that during inflammation, pathological changes begin to spread to the surrounding peritoneum.

Symptoms and signs

It is immediately necessary to distinguish between the types of ovarian disease. Oophoritis can develop in acute, subacute or chronic form, each of which has its own course.

Acute inflammation

The acute form is characterized by the presence of the following symptoms:

• frequent urination, accompanied by pain and severe pain;
• continuous one- or two-sided pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the sacrum or lower back;
• a sharp increase in temperature (up to 39°C), fever and general malaise;
• the presence of bleeding between menstruation;
• sharp severe pain during sexual intercourse;
• sometimes copious serous or purulent discharge.

In this case, the ovaries are significantly enlarged and painful upon examination. If you have been diagnosed with acute inflammation of the ovaries, you require urgent hospitalization and a course of treatment in a hospital.

Subacute

This form is observed quite rarely; it usually occurs with mycosis or tuberculosis infection.

If treatment of the acute form is not started in a timely manner, or if it is not completed, acute inflammation becomes protracted and chronic.

During periods of exacerbation of inflammation, patients experience:

1. dull, aching pain in the groin, lower abdomen and vagina. Moreover, the pain intensifies before the onset of menstruation, against the background of colds or during hypothermia;
2. sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, pain during sexual intercourse);
3. scanty but constant discharge (leucorrhoea);
4. disruption of the menstrual cycle and ovarian function;
5. failure to become pregnant even if you have regular sex life.

During a gynecological examination, the ovaries are slightly enlarged and sensitive to palpation. In addition, usually chronic inflammation of the ovaries also affects the neuropsychic state of a woman: irritability, insomnia appear, performance decreases and fatigue quickly sets in.

Diagnostics

The symptoms of oophoritis are quite vague, and in the acute form they are similar to other diseases: appendicitis, endometriosis, cyst, peritonitis, etc. Therefore, diagnosis is often difficult.

To make a reliable diagnosis, you should consult a doctor who will identify your existing disease based on the following factors:

• study of medical history (previous inflammations, STIs, abortions, complications during childbirth, etc.) and symptoms of the present disease (nature and location of pain, presence and abundance of discharge, general well-being);
• laboratory test results (increased levels of white blood cells in smears and blood and urine tests);
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• gynecological examination (enlarged and painful ovaries, impaired mobility of the uterine appendages);
• bacteriological examination, PCR diagnostics, RIF, ELISA (help to identify the causative agent of inflammation, the presence of hidden infections). If subacute inflammation is suspected, additional studies are carried out;
• hysterosalpingoscopy (shows the presence of gross anatomical changes in the fallopian tubes that occur in chronic conditions);
• Laparoscopy is one of the most informative diagnostic methods (it makes it possible to directly examine the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries for an accurate diagnosis). In chronic oophoritis, laparoscopy reveals infection of the fallopian tubes, disturbances in their patency, the presence of adhesions and other formations (pyosalpinx, pyovar), and adhesions in the pelvis.

Treatment

The choice of treatment method directly depends on the stage of the disease, its causes and the nature of the symptoms.

Acute cases are treated exclusively in a hospital with bed rest. In the first days of treatment, antibiotics, painkillers, sulfonamides and restoratives are used. At the subacute stage, certain physiotherapeutic procedures are added to the above treatment with caution. For chronic inflammation of the ovaries, various types of physio- and balneotherapy are used.

It is worth noting that chronic forms of oophoritis take much longer and more difficult to treat and often cause complications that require surgical intervention.

Antibiotics

The main method of treatment is the prescription of antibiotics, the choice of which is determined by the properties of the existing pathogen and its sensitivity to the selected antibiotic.

It is very important that the dose of antimicrobial drugs fully ensures their maximum concentration at the site of inflammation. Thus, to treat inflammation, antibiotics with a longer half-life are used, and in severe cases, various combinations of antibiotics are used.

The main method of treatment is the prescription of antibiotics

For inflammation of the appendages caused by microbes (streptococcus, staphylococcus, enterobacteria), treatment begins with the administration of penicillin with the simultaneous administration of aminoglycosides.

If the presence of anaerobic flora is suspected, metronidazole is used; in severe cases it is prescribed intravenously, in less severe cases - orally. The use of a number of antihistamines (suprastin, diphenhydramine, etc.) is also indicated to avoid intoxication.

With candles

Treatment with suppositories is usually carried out for anti-inflammatory purposes and is prescribed in addition to the main one. To do this, use candles with propolis, walnut extract or oak bark. However, remember that it is impossible to get rid of inflammation only with suppositories. If you have chronic inflammation, we recommend treatment with suppositories for preventive purposes, especially if you are prone to thrush.

How to treat with folk remedies

Once the diagnosis is made and the pathogen is identified, the gynecologist will prescribe an individual course of treatment for you. However, drug therapy is usually complemented by non-drug therapy.

There are many traditional methods of combating inflammation, which you can use both for prevention and as an addition to the main treatment. However, it is important to know that the treatment of acute and chronic stages is significantly different. So, in the acute stage, cold compresses, washing with arnica tincture, taking a bath with medicinal clay, etc. are used.

In the chronic stage, it is necessary to wrap the stomach, lumbar back, and take warm baths with the addition of chamomile or yarrow once a day. Taking a bath with wildflowers and mud baths will also be beneficial.

For pain relief, use a warm pillow stuffed with wildflowers (it can be heated in the oven), which must be applied to the lower abdomen during the day.

A pillow filled with wildflowers and heated by the sun will help reduce pain.

In the acute stage of the disease, yarrow tea will help. To prepare it, 1 tbsp. Dried yarrow pour a glass of hot water, let it brew for 7-10 minutes and drink.

For oophoritis, you can also mix 20 g of sweet clover herb, coltsfoot flowers and centaury herb. Then brew 1 tbsp. medicinal mixture in a glass of boiling water and leave for 1 hour. After this, the broth should be filtered and it is ready for use. You need to take it 6 times a day, 1/3 cup, for 3-4 weeks.

The following recipe will help not only with this pathology, but also with uterine cancer. Pour 50 g of wintergreen leaves into 0.5 liters of vodka and leave for 14 days somewhere in a dark place. Take the finished infusion, 30–40 drops, 3 times a day.

Illness during pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman's immunity is reduced and she is very susceptible to all kinds of infections. The same applies to inflammation, which could be asymptomatic before pregnancy, but will certainly manifest itself during pregnancy.

Pain in the lower abdomen and leucorrhoea are a dangerous sign. And the first thing a woman needs to do is to determine which pathogen caused the disease, because not only the course of pregnancy itself, but also the life of the fetus depends on this.

Pain in the lower abdomen and leucorrhoea are a dangerous sign

So, for example, if the cause is Treponema pallidum or gonococci (the causative agents of syphilis and gonorrhea), then the woman is advised to terminate the pregnancy.

If the problem is opportunistic microorganisms (candida, gardnerella, etc.), then the doctor must prescribe specially selected antibiotics that correspond to the duration of pregnancy and the type of pathogen. However, whatever the reason, the inflammatory process significantly increases the risk of unfavorable course and outcome of pregnancy.

If during pregnancy the inflammation does not worsen, but direct infection occurs, this can lead to intrauterine infection of the fetus. And even if the fetus is healthy, there is a risk of infection during childbirth, so doctors often recommend a cesarean section in such situations.

Sex with ovarian inflammation

With oophoritis, gynecologists, as a rule, do not recommend having sex. In addition, due to inflammation, women usually feel an unpleasant heaviness or even sharp pain in the lower abdomen during sexual intercourse. In addition, patients often experience a decrease in sexual activity and a lack of sexual desire.

Avoid hypothermia, overwork, stress, observe the rules of personal hygiene and do not forget about periodic examinations with a gynecologist. Then you won’t be afraid of any inflammation. Be healthy!

Pain in the lower abdomen is a rather difficult symptom even for specialists. There are many diseases that manifest themselves in this way, and inflammation of the ovaries (bilateral or unilateral) is one of them. Scientifically, this pathology is called salpingoophoritis (inflammation of the ovaries and tubes), but previously it was called adnexitis. This is the most common form of diseases of the internal genital organs in women, and the most dangerous in terms of reproductive functions - 20% of cases of this pathology end in infertility.

Types of ovarian inflammation

Salpingoophoritis is an inflammatory disease, which means it is subject to the general principles of classification of inflammation. In addition, the ovary and uterine appendages are paired organs, which means that the disease can be subdivided according to this reason. So, salpingoophoritis happens:

• by etiology - specific or nonspecific;
• by localization - one- or two-sided;
• according to the course - acute or chronic.

Causes of inflammation of the ovaries and tubes

The cause of inflammation of the uterine appendages is microorganisms. They penetrate into the “action zone” most often in an ascending way - through the vagina, uterus and higher. The tubes are affected first, and then the ovaries. Among the causative agents of the disease are:

• Staphylococcus epidermidis, aureus;
• streptococcus;
• coli;
• gonococci;
• chlamydia;
• bacteroides;
• peptococci;
• peptostreptococci;
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Most often, the disease is caused by several pathogens at once. The risk of disease increases greatly in the presence of one or more additional factors:

• lack of personal hygiene (incorrect technique of washing the genitals or infrequent washing;
• hypothermia, in which the pelvic vessels narrow and local immunity decreases;
• promiscuous sexual intercourse without the use of barrier contraception methods in the form of a condom;
• artificial termination of pregnancy, especially criminal abortion;
• insufficient and inadequate nutrition;
• chronic stress.

This, as well as some difficulties in diagnosis, explains the rather high frequency of the disease in the population.

Can menstruation occur with inflammation of the ovaries? Irina, 30 years old.

Irina, there is no direct connection between the inflammatory process and the menstrual cycle. However, factors that provoke a violation of the immune system can also cause a delay in menstruation. This doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Tell your gynecologist about the delay.

Symptoms of the disease

The main symptom of acute salpingoophoritis is pain in the lower abdomen, constant, aching, not associated with the menstrual cycle. Often it radiates to the area of ​​the external genitalia and lower back. Intoxication syndrome occurs in most women with inflammation of the ovaries. It manifests itself in the form of increased body temperature (sometimes to very high numbers), weakness, fatigue, decreased appetite, and nausea.

With particularly high activity of the inflammatory process, pain during urination and bloating may occur. Because of this, sometimes women think that they have an exacerbation of cystitis and waste time on usual home procedures instead of immediately seeing a doctor. Delayed menstruation is not typical for this disease, although it sometimes coincides with the onset of salpingo-oophorosis.

Every woman with suspected diseases of the genital organs should be examined using mirrors (with the exception of women with an intact hymen). In this case, inflammation of the cervical canal and serous-purulent discharge from it are detected, although not always. These secretions should be analyzed to detect an increased number of white blood cells.

At the same time, the gynecologist examines the appendages using palpation, while the appendages, which are usually easily palpable, with salpingo-oophoritis can be palpated unclearly, and the place of palpation is sharply painful.

From each woman with suspected inflammation in the pelvis, blood is taken for a general analysis, which reveals an increase in the number of leukocytes, ESR, and in the proteinogram - a shift in the albumin/globulin gradient towards the latter, an increase in the amount of C-reactive protein - a nonspecific indicator of the inflammatory process.

Symptoms of chronic adnexitis

Pelvic pain is also a sign of a chronic process. It is much less pronounced. Sometimes, instead of pain, a woman feels only discomfort, but usually it is an aching, pulling pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes radiating to the lower back. With this form of the disease, there are frequent complaints of pain associated with sexual intercourse (before, after or during it) and the inability to become pregnant. A bimanual examination (feeling the internal genital organs with one hand inserted into the vagina and the other placed on the stomach) reveals a decrease in the mobility of the uterus and appendages. In the analyzes - only a slight increase in ESR.

With an exacerbation of the chronic process, the symptoms exactly correspond to acute salpingo-oophoritis.

Inflammation of the ovaries in women - what are the symptoms and treatment with folk remedies?

If the doctor is a professional, then he, knowing about the consequences of self-medication, will never offer alternative treatment for such a disease. At a minimum, he will have to talk about the very likely consequences. Three recipes are given above, but I strongly do not recommend abandoning traditional treatment in order to avoid serious complications.

Diagnosis of inflammation of the ovaries and tubes

Salpingoophoritis is a very difficult disease to diagnose. The doctor must take into account a lot of data both from the anamnesis and from symptoms and data from laboratory and instrumental studies.

Anamnesis for diagnosis is important to indicate:

• abortions and childbirth with complications;
• manipulations performed in the uterine cavity, including curettage;
• use of intrauterine contraceptives;
• hysteroscopy;
• promiscuity;
• hysterosalpingography (a procedure in which an X-ray contrast agent is injected into the uterine cavity and tubes to determine possible narrowing of the tubes and the presence of space-occupying formations or other deformations in the uterine cavity).

From laboratory tests, it is important to study a general blood test to identify the fact of inflammation, as well as study discharge from the cervix, vagina, and urethra for the presence of pathogens, determining their type and sensitivity to antibiotics.

Ultrasound diagnostics does not provide enough information to make a correct diagnosis. The transabdominal method (ultrasound sensor on the abdomen) can only reveal some indicators that indicate a chronic process - adhesions, thickening of the tubes. It is also possible to detect fluid in the pelvis or tubes in severe forms of salpingoophoritis that occur with complications - pyo- and hydrosalpinx, pelvioperitonitis. CT and MRI make it possible to distinguish an inflammatory process from a tumor process.

Treatment of ovarian inflammation

All patients with acute salpingoophoritis or severe exacerbations of chronic oophoritis should be treated in a hospital. Only mild exacerbations can be treated at home, but this requires a high degree of personal discipline when taking the pills.

Drug treatment is mandatory for all acute salpingoophoritis and exacerbations of chronic ones of any severity. The drugs of choice are antibiotics. Initially, broad-spectrum drugs are prescribed, preferably in the form of intravenous injections, with a gradual transition to taking them orally. Applicable:

• cefotaxime or ceftriaxone with metronidazole (trichopolum);
• Augmentin, Klacid, Klamox (these are synonyms!);
• ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin or levofloxacin in combination with metronidazole;
• tienam;
• lincomycin in combination with gentamicin or amikacin.

At the same time, antibiotics of the macrolide group or doxycycline are prescribed, since chlamydial infection is often detected with inflammation of the appendages.

In parallel with antibiotic therapy, measures are taken to relieve intoxication by intravenous administration of solutions of glucose, salts, rheopolyglucin, hemodez, mafusol, as well as restorative treatment with vitamins, protein preparations, etc.

If necessary (which happens quite often), antipyretics, painkillers (diclofenac), anti-inflammatory drugs in tablets or in the form of injections, suppositories, and ice on the stomach are used.

The use of locally acting drugs - terzhinan, polygynax, hexicon, sea buckthorn suppositories is inappropriate, since the medicinal components from them cannot reach the ovaries and tubes under any circumstances.

After the acute process subsides, as well as during the chronic process, in the phase of incomplete remission, physiotherapeutic measures are carried out aimed at preventing the development of the adhesive process:

• phonophoresis with copper, calcium or magnesium preparations;
• magnetic therapy;
• electrophoresis with zinc, magnesium, hyaluronidase;
• diadynamic currents;
• sanatorium-resort treatment with radon baths, thalassotherapy.

The prognosis for acute salpingoophoritis is favorable for life, and if all doctor’s recommendations are followed, also for reproductive functions. With a chronic process, the prognosis for fertility is much worse.

Inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) is a pathology in which the infectious process covers the female reproductive glands on one or both sides.

The disease is extremely rarely isolated. Most often, the inflammation spreads to the uterine (fallopian) tubes. Oophoritis is accompanied by dysfunction of the ovaries.

Without adequate timely treatment, the pathology can lead to decreased fertility (ability to conceive). Let's consider the directions of treatment and symptoms of ovarian inflammation in women.

Causes

The main causes of inflammation are opportunistic or pathogenic bacteria. Inflammation is caused by gonococci, trichomonas, chlamydia, ureaplasma, streptococci, which enter the uterine appendages from the vagina in an ascending manner.

The disease usually occurs in young women who are sexually active and do not use barrier methods of contraception.

The main causes of oophoritis include:

• venereal diseases;
• autoimmune pathologies;
• inflammatory process of the fallopian tubes;
• promiscuous sex life;
• hormonal imbalances;
• inflammation of neighboring organs (large intestine, appendix, bladder);
• injuries to the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.

Inflammation of the ovaries can be triggered by tuberculosis, childbirth and abortion, surgical interventions on the pelvic organs and hypothermia.

The listed factors lead to a decrease in immunity and the development of bacterial flora, which is found in small quantities in the body of each person. In the absence of a specific response from the immune system, pathogenic microflora multiply intensively, which leads to an inflammatory process.

Indirect reasons for the development of oophoritis are:

• lack of sleep;
• smoking;
• frequent overwork;
• stressful situations;
• deficiency of vitamins and microelements.

The risk of infectious inflammatory complications increases the use of intrauterine devices. This common contraceptive can act as a carrier of bacteria and also weaken local immunity.

Symptoms

Pathological manifestations in acute and chronic oophoritis are different.

Acute form

In the acute form, the clinic manifests itself clearly and there are many symptoms. In this case, there are practically no difficulties in diagnosis. Acute onset with high fever (up to 400), chills, intense pain of different localization, with copious discharge of various, mainly purulent, nature. The pain is localized depending on the damage to the ovaries. Inflammation of the ovaries in women can be bilateral or on one side. If both ovaries are involved in the process, the pain is disturbing in the groin area, strong, acute, accompanied by general symptoms of intoxication: fever, maybe chills, general malaise, headaches, weakness.

With unilateral damage, pain appears from the side of inflammation and can radiate to the lower back or rectum. This may interfere with the process of defecation. Depending on which side the pathological process develops, it is necessary to differentiate with appendicitis (on the right) or with renal colic. Inflammation of the ovaries can affect the urinary organs, and then the process of urination itself is disrupted. If the uterus is involved in the inflammatory process, the pain is intense in the lower abdomen, without clear localization and irradiation. That is, in terms of symptoms, it resembles an acute surgical pathology and requires urgent hospitalization in a hospital.

Features of the chronic form of inflammation

If inflammation becomes chronic, it periodically worsens. Usually the cause is colds or infectious diseases, physical or mental stress, digestive disorders, and diseases of the genitourinary system. If a woman smokes or drinks alcohol frequently, the risk of exacerbations increases.

In some cases, relapses of the disease do not occur; the woman is only worried about discharge and irregular menstruation. This course of ovarian inflammation is typical, for example, with gonorrhea. However, gradually thickening of the walls of the fallopian tubes occurs, and the formation of adhesions in the ovaries. With a unilateral process, the pain is localized at the site of inflammation. If it occurs on the right side, then the symptoms of oophoritis may be confused with the symptoms of appendicitis. A thorough diagnosis of the disease is required.

Often inflammation that occurs on one side spreads to the second ovary. In women suffering from chronic inflammation of the ovaries, a common symptom is the presence of constant scanty discharge (leucorrhoea). Typically, patients consult a doctor for examination and treatment if pregnancy does not occur.

Diagnostics

With this disease, the symptoms are quite vague. The acute form of ovarian inflammation is similar in its symptoms to the manifestations of an acute abdomen in various diseases: ectopic pregnancy, appendicitis, ovarian cyst, peritonitis.

As a result, making a correct diagnosis is often difficult. For the highest reliability, the results of the following analyzes are used:

• ultrasound diagnostics.
• bacteriological examination.
• hysterosalpingoscopy (detection of gross anatomical changes in the fallopian tubes that can occur during chronic inflammation of the ovaries).
• Laparoscopy is the most informative diagnostic method.
• gynecological history data (this includes information about the presence of previous inflammation of the uterus and appendages, STIs, complicated childbirth, abortion, diagnostic intrauterine procedures).
• laboratory tests (increased levels of leukocytes in urine and blood tests, smears of the urethra and vagina).
• gynecological examination (pain and enlargement of the ovaries, impaired mobility of the uterine appendages).

Complications

Acute oophoritis can become a chronic process lasting months and years. The rational use of drugs for ovarian inflammation in women prevents the transition of the inflammatory process to the chronic phase, when irreversible changes occur in the form of scars and adhesions.

The consequences of oophoritis also include pathological pregnancy outcomes (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy) and infertility. A complication of aggravated inflammation may be suppuration of the ovaries. This condition requires prompt surgical intervention - possible ovarian rupture leads to the development of peritonitis.

How to treat ovarian inflammation?

Acute inflammation of the ovaries is treated in a hospital setting with bed rest. Cold is applied to the lower abdomen. The main direction of therapy is the use of antibiotics. In addition, medications are prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as physiotherapy.

The most commonly used antibiotics are:

• penicillins – amoxicillin, ampicillin;
• aminoglycosides – gentamicin, netilmicin;
• cephalosporins – cefazolin, ceftazidime;
• Metronidazole.

The average course of treatment is 7-10 days. The drugs are prescribed intramuscularly or orally. The dosage is selected individually.

To reduce the severity of pain and accelerate the relief of the inflammatory process in acute oophoritis, the following are used:

1. Non-steroidal drugs to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. The main drugs are diclofenac, indomethacin. They can be prescribed in the form of tablets or suppositories. The second option has fewer side effects.
2. Immunostimulating drugs. Preparations containing recombinant interferon are used, as well as herbal remedies that increase the body's resistance.
3. Vaginal suppositories. They may include phytocomponents (propolis, oak bark, walnut extracts) or local antiseptics (natamycin, chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine).

After the symptoms subside, physiotherapeutic treatment is practiced:

• electrophoresis;
• magnetic therapy;
• phonophoresis with magnesium and calcium;
• ultrasound with hydrocortisone ointment;
• radon baths and so on.

If a purulent abscess forms, surgery is performed. During the intervention, it is opened and local antibiotics are administered.

Treatment of the chronic form

Treatment of the disease in a chronic form is reduced to pain relief, restoration of reproductive function and the formation of beneficial microflora of the woman’s genital organs, which has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect.

The doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulators, physiotherapy - mud therapy, mineral baths, gynecological massage, acupuncture. Treatment of chronic ovarian inflammation takes a long time and sometimes requires surgical intervention.

Prevention

Prevention of ovarian inflammation includes:

1. Timely examinations. Timely and periodic examinations by a gynecologist make it possible to diagnose diseases at the initial stage, which greatly facilitates and speeds up treatment.
2. Timely diagnosis. Timely diagnosis of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower reproductive system can reduce the risk of complications.
3. Treatment of infections of neighboring organs. Timely treatment of infectious foci in organs located near the ovaries can reduce the risk of their involvement in the inflammatory process.
4. Protection against sexually transmitted infections. Since the main cause of ovarian inflammation is sexually transmitted infections, it is extremely important to use barrier contraceptive methods (condoms), which reduce the risk of transmitting sexually transmitted diseases.
5. Healthy lifestyle. To prevent oophoritis, exposure to toxic substances (alcohol, nicotine), cold, and exhaustion should be avoided. It is necessary to eat right and practice physical exercise, as this helps strengthen the immune system and helps normalize the function of the entire body.

In case of chronic oophoritis, sanatorium-resort treatment will help to avoid exacerbation of the disease, which has an anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic effect and prevents the formation of adhesions. Timely preventive measures have a general health-improving effect, avoid disability, antibiotic therapy and improve the quality of life.

Oophoritis or inflammation of the ovaries requires timely treatment. The danger of the disease is that it can lead to infertility, pathological changes in the uterine tissue, and damage to the appendages. If the inflammatory process spreads to the uterus, there is a risk of a malignant tumor. The goals of treatment are to eliminate symptoms of the disease and prevent relapses.

Functions of the ovaries and the danger of oophoritis

If this disease is properly treated, it will not become chronic. The main sign of oophoritis- pain in the lower abdomen. However, the symptom may indicate other pathologies, and therefore a comprehensive diagnosis is required.

Women's ovaries are responsible for motherhood. They form the egg and create the conditions for its maturation. If the paired organ functions well, pregnancy proceeds without complications. The ovaries are also needed to produce hormones. Hormonal imbalance leads to pathologies of the genitourinary system.

Inflammatory process can be unilateral or bilateral. In the first case, it covers one ovary (left or right), in the second, both are affected. The danger of bilateral inflammation is that it can lead to damage to the fallopian tubes (the disease is called “Salpingitis”). First, the pathological process covers the mucous membranes, then it moves to the tissues.

Causes of the disease

Inflammation occurs due to an infection entering the paired organ. Oophoritis can be specific and nonspecific. Specific inflammation is associated with the penetration of infection. Pathology of this type is diagnosed in patients with syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia. Specific inflammation is often associated with tuberculosis.

The nonspecific form of the disease is caused by the influence of opportunistic microflora. It is activated when the immune system is weakened. TO causes of nonspecific oophoritis include stress, hypothermia. A woman can get colds in the genitourinary system, which will lead to oophoritis. In some cases the disease is caused streptococci, staphylococci, Escherichia coli.

It is usually associated with the penetration of infectious agents. Germs enter the ovaries through the cervix or fallopian tubes. The infection can enter the ovaries through the intestines and organs of the genitourinary system.

The lower abdomen may hurt due to intestinal inflammation. Oophoritis is often confused with appendicitis.

If problems arise during surgery and the doctor introduces an infection, the risk of illness increases. A rare reason is the installation of an intrauterine device.

In acute inflammation, the symptoms are pronounced. The patient feels pain in the lower abdomen. The discomfort forces her to see a doctor. Subacute inflammation is diagnosed in women, patients tuberculosis. The symptoms in this case are vague and combined with the underlying disease. The chronic form can lead to severe complications. To avoid them, you need to treat oophoritis in time. Symptoms of a chronic disease are mild. The patient experiences periods of exacerbation and remission.

Clinical picture

Symptoms of ovarian pain in women depend on the form of the pathology. Patients with acute inflammation feel discomfort in the groin and ovaries. Unpleasant sensations may occur in the sacral area. A sign of inflammation of the ovaries and appendages in women - abdominal discomfort before menstruation. Pathology leads to menstrual irregularities.

Other symptoms of ovarian inflammation in women - fever, chills. If the patient is taking an antipyretic, the temperature remains at the same levels. A sign of oophoritis is headache. Some women are concerned aches in joints and muscles. The inflammatory process is characterized frequent urination. Symptom of ovarian inflammation in women - white or brown-green discharge. They may contain particles of blood and pus. A sign of inflammation is bleeding not associated with menstruation.

Symptoms and treatment of ovarian inflammation in women depend on the stage of the pathological process. Some women experience indigestion.

Oophoritis also occurs:

• irritability;
• increased fatigue;
• insomnia.

The disease attacks during colds and infectious pathologies. The cause of exacerbation may be a cold, physical and psycho-emotional stress.

Chronic inflammation occurs against the background of pathologies of the genitourinary system. If the immune system is strong, the disease is in a state of long remission. The patient has irregular discharge and her menstrual cycle is disrupted.

With chronic oophoritis, the walls of the fallopian tubes thicken, and adhesions appear in the ovaries. If the lesion is unilateral, the pain is localized in a specific area. To confirm the diagnosis, need to conduct a comprehensive examination. Inflammation can spread from one side to the other. If one paired organ is involved in the pathological process, white discharge occurs.

Consequences of oophoritis

A unilateral lesion is less dangerous than a bilateral one. To avoid complications, you need to treat the disease correctly and comprehensively.

Consequences of oophoritis:

• infertility;
• dysfunction of the genitourinary system;
• hormonal disbalance;
• malignant tumor;
• kidney pathologies;
• diseases associated with the intestines.

If the production of hormones is disrupted, a woman is unable to bear a baby. Sometimes the disease leads to disruption of the menstrual cycle. Ovarian dysfunction causes a disease that affects the mammary glands. Oophoritis can lead to pathological changes in the uterine tissue.

Diagnostic measures

The doctor makes a diagnosis based on a comprehensive examination.

Oophoritis has a similar clinical picture to the following diseases:

• appendicitis;
• peritonitis;
• uterine tumor.

To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to identify all concomitant diseases. Sometimes inflammation of the ovaries is observed in women who have had abortions, as well as in those who have inserted intrauterine devices.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor clarifies the location of the pain and finds out the nature of the discharge. A gynecological examination is performed. It allows you to identify swelling, abnormal location of the ovaries in women, pain in the organs of the genitourinary system.

Blood and urine tests are needed to check for the presence of an inflammatory process. The doctor pays attention to the number of leukocytes. To clarify the nature of the disease, it is necessary to perform a pelvic ultrasound. PCR diagnostics allows you to determine what type of virus it is. Laparoscopy is a progressive examination method. To perform the procedure, the doctor inserts a tube with a camera into an opening in the abdominal wall.

Effective treatments

The doctor prescribes antibiotics. The patient must adhere to the indicated dosages and remain in bed for a certain time. Antibiotics have a wide spectrum of effects; they inhibit pathogens. Therapy involves the use of antibacterial agents: penicillin and aminoglycosides. They are taken within 8 days.

List of popular drugs for the treatment of oophoritis:

1. Ceftriaxone;
2. Metronidazole;
3. Doxycycline.

The goals of local therapy are to eliminate pain and relieve fever. The doctor also prescribes vaginal suppositories. They contain components that suppress fungi and viruses. Voltaren suppositories relieve inflammation. The drug helps restore mucous membranes. Medicines with diclofenacrarely have side effects, therefore they are in demand.

Hirudotherapy is performed to remove adhesions and relieve swelling. Effective electrophoresis. During the procedure, the doctor administers medication using a low frequency current. Some patients do magnetic therapy. It helps relieve inflammation. Oophoritis with complications can be cured operative method.

Therapy at home

Pain in the ovaries is a reason to consult a doctor. Before using folk remedies, you need to make sure that they do not cause allergies.

Treatment at home should be correct. It is not recommended to exceed the indicated dosages, otherwise the herbs will be harmful.

To prevent infection during sexual intercourse need to use contraceptives. They reduce the threat of sexually transmitted diseases. Prevention involves regular gynecological examinations. It is recommended to visit a doctor once every six months. To avoid diseases of the genitourinary system, you must follow personal hygiene rules, timely diagnose other pathologies.

Inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes is called adnexitis. The infection affects one or both glands at once. When inflammation of the ovaries occurs in women, only a gynecologist can determine the symptoms and treatment.

The disease is classified as a dangerous pathology. In 20% of patients who have had adnexitis, infertility occurs. In advanced states, the disease leads to peritonitis, a life-threatening complication. Emergency surgery is the only thing that helps prevent death.

The ovaries can become inflamed if they are penetrated by:

• pathogens that cause sexually transmitted infections (eg, gonorrhea agents);
• opportunistic microorganisms (streptococci, staphylococci, candida).

The development of adnexitis is also provoked by:

• childbirth;
• abortion;
• intrauterine devices;
• genital surgery;
• careless performance of diagnostic procedures.

If a woman has a cold in her ovaries, then there is a high probability that an inflammatory process will break out in the glands.

Adnexitis is not the root cause, but a consequence of infectious processes occurring in the uterus and fallopian tubes. Occasionally, pathogens enter the ovaries with blood or lymph if a woman is sick with tuberculosis, tonsillitis, or has carious teeth.

The infectious and inflammatory process moves from the uterus to the tubes. Purulent exudate appears in the fallopian tubes and adhesions form. Their walls become denser, and the lumen narrows.

If treatment is not started at this stage, the gonads are drawn into the inflammatory process. The tube is soldered to the ovary. In severe cases, the peritoneal tissues undergo destructive changes. Ultimately, it all ends with rupture of the fallopian tube and peritonitis.

Symptoms

When ovarian inflammation occurs in women, symptoms and treatment vary. The disease is acute, subacute and chronic. Each type of disease is accompanied by characteristic symptoms.

Exacerbation stage

When adnexitis worsens, the following symptoms occur:

• severe pain, pain when urinating;
• constant pain radiating to the lower back or sacrum, lower abdomen, above the pubis;
• a sharp increase in temperature, sometimes up to 39 degrees;
• feverish condition;
• weakness, fatigue;
• bleeding between periods;
• excessive pain during intimacy;
• copious discharge of serous or purulent exudate.

An exacerbation is manifested by another pronounced symptom: inflammatory processes lead to a significant enlargement of the ovaries, the palpation procedure causes pain to the woman. This symptom is determined by the gynecologist when examining the patient. Treatment of adnexitis in the acute stage is carried out in a hospital setting.

Signs of subacute form

This type of illness is a rare occurrence. The disease develops against the background of mycoplasmosis or tuberculosis. The signs of the subacute phase of the disease are similar to the symptoms of the acute form, but are less pronounced.

Symptoms of chronic inflammation

If not cured immediately, the disease develops into a chronic form. The disease either worsens or subsides. In the acute stage, chronic inflammation of the ovaries manifests itself as follows:

• soreness in the groin, above the pubis;
• increased pain during menstruation;
• sexual dysfunction (low libido, pain during intimacy);
• poorly discharged leucorrhoea;
• menstruation disorder;
• ovarian dysfunction;
• It is impossible to conceive a child even with regular sex life.

The size of the inflamed ovary is increased. When palpating it, pain occurs. Women burdened with adnexitis:

• irritable;
• lethargic;
• suffer from increased fatigue, sleep disturbances, and decreased performance.

Drug therapy

The choice of treatment method is influenced by the form of the disease, severity, symptoms and causes of adnexitis. The acute form is treated in a hospital setting. Sick women are prescribed:

• antibiotics;
• pain relievers;
• restorative drugs (immunomodulators, multivitamins).

In subacute adnexitis, therapy is supplemented with physiotherapy. In the chronic course of the disease, methods of physiotherapeutic and balneological treatment are used.

Chronic adnexitis is a difficult-to-treat pathology. Treatment for chronic ovarian inflammation takes longer. The disease is more difficult to treat and produces severe complications that can only be eliminated surgically.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are absolutely necessary to treat ovarian inflammation. To suppress inflammation, an antibiotic is selected that can destroy the pathogen that caused the disease.

In the affected area, the concentration of the antibiotic should reach a maximum value. For this purpose, treatment of the ovaries is carried out with drugs that have a rather long half-life. When the disease is aggravated, antibiotics are used in various combinations.

How to treat ovarian inflammation caused by opportunistic microorganisms (streptococci, enterobacteria)? Doctors usually prescribe Penicillin to women.

Anaerobic microflora is suppressed with Metronidazole. In mild forms, the medicine is taken orally; in advanced conditions, it is administered intravenously.

Candles

The main therapy is supplemented with auxiliary means - using suppositories that eliminate adnexitis. For treatment of inflammation of the ovaries, suppositories are used, which contain:

• Oak bark
• propolis;
• Walnut.

Suppositories alone are unable to cope with adnexitis. They are used only in complex treatment of the disease and as a prophylactic agent to prevent chronic inflammatory processes.

Traditional methods

After clarifying the diagnosis and identifying the pathogen, the doctor prescribes a course of supportive and preventive therapy. Drug treatment is supplemented with traditional medicine.

Ovaries are treated at home in different ways. The choice of methods is influenced by the form of the disease. For acute adnexitis, apply cold compresses, take medicinal baths with clay, and wash with herbal decoctions.

In the chronic course of the disease, wrap the lower back and abdomen with insulated bandages, lie in baths with herbal decoctions and medicinal mud. Stuff the pillow with wildflowers, heat it, and fix it in the lower abdomen.

List of plants used for adnexitis

Treatment of ovarian inflammation with folk remedies helps alleviate the course of the disease, prevent the development of complications and relapses, and promotes a speedy recovery.

The following herbs effectively cope with adnexitis:

How to use plants

For inflammation of the ovaries in women, treatment with folk methods helps eliminate apathy, irritation, increase libido, suppress inflammation, normalize hormonal imbalance, restore the emotional background and the menstrual cycle. Treatment with home remedies lasts 4-6 weeks. After the treatment course, a break is necessary.

Treatment at home is carried out using the following recipes:

Douching

Warm solutions are prepared for the douching procedure:

1. Juniper fruits are dipped in boiling water and infused. The product is douched daily until the signs of adnexitis disappear.
2. An aqueous extract from cinquefoil, centaury, and coltsfoot suppresses inflammation of the ovaries.
3. Treatment of inflamed ovaries is carried out with the following solution: steam bergenia in boiling water, dilute with water 1:1.
4. Sloes, chamomile and rose hips are poured into a thermos and boiling water is poured in. Insist during the day. Douche before bed.

Using herbal tampons

Hygienic tampons are impregnated with the following agents:

With the help of tampons, colds and inflamed ovaries are treated for 14 days. The procedure is carried out before bedtime. In the morning, the used tampon is removed.

Complex therapy prescribed by a doctor helps to get rid of adnexitis. With the simultaneous use of medications and folk remedies, the inflammatory process quickly subsides and does not cause complications. Women who harden the body, strengthen the immune system, eat right, dress for the season, are protected from the occurrence of disease.