Adnexitis – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Complications And Treatment

Adnexitis

Unfortunately, increasingly more women, especially young women, have this pathology. Adnexitis is a inflammatory diseases that is generally affecting the fallopian tubes and ovaries, but can also affect the uterus. It is called metro-adnexitis (the uterus is affected). Inflammatory lesions occur most commonly in the fallopian tubes and ovaries and uterus are less damaged.

Statistical studies show that one in four women suffers from adnexistis and in 60% of cases the infection becomes chronic.

Causes Of Adnexitis

The main cause of adnexitis can be an infection which is transmitted during unprotected intercourse, and in this case, treatment should be followed by both sexual partners. Other causes are vaginal infections (vaginitis) or uterus infections that are transmitted to the fallopian tubes.

Abdominal infections: appendicitis infection can be transmitted through the ligament which is connecting the appendix to the ovary, resulting in adnexitis which is secondary to appendicitis (this infection is unilateral).

Adnexitis

Other abdominal infections, which can be transmitted to the genital organs, causing secondary infections.

Exposure to cold or alternating hot-cold, the settlement on cold surfaces (concrete, stairs, etc..) can favor the occurrence of adnexitis.

Diagnosis And Symptoms Of Adnexitis

Adnexitis is generally affecting both of the fallopian tubes, but the inflammation is more pronounced in one fallopian tube, which becomes symptomatic. Symptoms of acute forms of adnexitis are characterized by:

• Pain in lower abdomen, unilaterally or bilaterally. Pain may be deaf and sometimes may become intense, exaggerated by the urination or defecation efforts.
• Fever.
• Modified and more abundant vaginal discharge.
• Menstrual disorders, especially manifested by heavy bleeding and prolonged menses.
• Nausea and vomiting, headaches and frequent urination in small amounts.
• Malaise.

Complications Of Adnexitis

Unfortunately the worst and also most common complication of adnexitis is infertility. For a woman to become pregnant, during the ovulation the egg must be fertilized by a sperm, and this thing happens in the fallopian tubes. If a woman has adnexitis, the fallopian tube is narrowed and it is possible that the egg not to be released, and for this reason the woman can not get pregnant naturally.

Adnexitis

Treatment Of Adnexitis

Treatment is using antibiotics and should be initiated quickly.

Because adnexitis is an infection, the treatment consists of antibiotics administration. The doctor may suggest to the patient, before the antibiogram results (test used to determine germ sesitivity to certain antibiotics) , to use broad-spectrum antibiotics or antibiotics which proved by medical practice that are the most effective in treating adnexitis.