Oophoritis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Oophoritis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the area of the fallopian tubes. This pathology affects women between the ages of 15 and 35, as well as women with menopause. Usually, a bacterial infection triggers it.
As a result of the development of this disease, the fallopian tubes become welded to the ovaries. This can lead to infertility.
If the condition is detected quickly, the woman’s reproductive system will experience less damage. Also, the infection won’t have the possibility of spreading to any other place in the body, causing more reproductive problems. Mild cases can be treated with antibiotics, while more severe cases require surgery.
Gynecologists verify the presence of oophoritis and sexually transmitted diseases by performing pelvic exams and extracting samples of mucus and uterine tissue for laboratory analysis.
The laboratory tests reveal the nature of the bacterial infection. Doctors use this information to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
What is oophoritis?
Oophoritis is a type of female pelvic inflammatory disease that mainly affects the ovaries. It’s caused by a bacterial infection, usually the result of a sexually transmitted disease.
It can occur in women of any age, although it’s more common in women between 15 and 35 years old. Most infections can be treated with oral antibiotics, although severe cases may require hospitalization for more in-depth care.
Bacterial infections cause this condition. As with many types of infections, it’s crucial to treat the problem before it becomes more damaging to the reproductive system and spreads throughout the body.
Unfortunately, this condition usually accompanies other pelvic inflammatory diseases as the infection spreads.
There are several precautions that women can take to help reduce their chances of developing oophoritis. Among other care, knowing the sexual history of their partner and using condoms can significantly reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
Often, gynecologists recommend that sexually active women schedule regular check-ups to monitor the health of their reproductive system. They can also further reduce the likelihood of bacterial infections by maintaining good hygiene.
What are the causes and who is at risk?
The main factors that contribute to the development of oophoritis include:
- Chronic infections in the body
- Smoking
- Stressful situations and excessive fatigue
- Promiscuity
- Disorders in the genitourinary system
- Diseases of the endocrine system
- Unprotected sexual intercourse
If the oophoritis is detected quickly, the woman’s reproductive system will be less damaged and the infection won’t have any possibility of spreading to any other place in the body.
What are the symptoms of oophoritis?
Symptoms of oophoritis vary depending on the infection’s severity, but may include:
- Severe pain in the lower abdomen – occurs around the time menstruation ends or in the first 10 days after menstruation. Usually, it lasts less than 7 days.
- Heavy vaginal bleeding during menstruation.
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- High fever and chills
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Upset stomach and vomiting
- A general feeling of discomfort
- Back pain
- Sensitivity to cervical movement
- Pain when urinating
The relationship between oophoritis and infertility
As the ovaries are home to egg cells, any inflammation can be bad news for future fertility. If oophoritis causes ovarian adhesions with surrounding organs and blocked fallopian tubes, it may decrease the chances of a future pregnancy.
Oophoritis can cause adhesions in the area around the ovaries or can block the fallopian tubes. This causes the ovary not to release an ovum.
However, the positive aspect is that future moms have two ovaries, so the damage to one side doesn’t always affect the other. Even so, oophoritis can cause an ectopic pregnancy if left untreated.
Early diagnosis and treatment of oophoritis increases the chances of becoming pregnant in the future. For this reason, don’t postpone your doctor visit.
In short, remember that even seemingly mild infections can cause serious damage to the reproductive organs. Also, oophoritis needs rapid treatment to prevent health complications and preserve fertility.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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