Endometritis


Endometritis
Endometritis refers to the inflammatory changes in the uterine lining caused by various reasons. Common clinical causes include infections resulting from miscarriage or childbirth, as well as various intrauterine procedures, where bacteria opportunistically enter the uterus through the vagina. Clinically, this condition is characterized by congestion and edema of the endometrium, and in severe cases, it may lead to suppuration. Patients may experience fever, abdominal pain, and an increase in vaginal discharge, which is often purulent or hemorrhagic-purulent in nature. Clinically, antibiotics are primarily used for treatment. It is recommended that women develop good personal hygiene habits in daily life, maintain genital cleanliness, engage in moderate exercise, and enhance the body's resistance.


What tests are done to diagnose endometritis?
Endometritis is generally definitively diagnosed by undergoing a diagnostic curettage at the hospital, where material is scraped and then sent for pathological examination to confirm the presence of endometritis. Clinically, the diagnosis of endometritis is mostly based on a combination of clinical symptoms and gynecological ultrasound examination. Patients with endometritis typically experience abdominal pain during menstruation, lower abdominal pain, and an unusual odor during their period. At such times, anti-inflammatory medication can be administered symptomatically. Most pelvic cases are considered to be anaerobic bacterial infections, thus medications targeting anaerobic bacteria can be used for symptomatic treatment. Therefore, while the definitive diagnosis of endometritis is established through diagnostic curettage, this procedure is invasive, and in most clinical cases, it is not performed. If endometritis is initially suspected, it is generally assessed through gynecological internal examination, ultrasound, and the patient's clinical manifestations and symptoms, followed by symptomatic treatment.


How is endometritis treated?
When women develop endometritis, it is mostly caused by mixed bacterial infections. In such cases, broad-spectrum antibiotics can be used for anti-inflammatory treatment. For example, under generally good conditions, oral cephalosporin or penicillin antibiotics can be used for treatment. If a woman's physical condition is poor, intravenous infusion therapy can also be administered. Additionally, if a woman experiences changes in her menstrual cycle, such as heavier menstrual flow or irregular vaginal bleeding, oral hemostatic drugs can be used for bleeding control. During non-bleeding periods, women can also opt for abdominal microwave therapy to promote the absorption of inflammation.


How is endometritis diagnosed?
Endometritis can be detected through the following methods: First, gynecological examinations, as most patients with endometritis experience lower abdominal pain. During the gynecological examination, the doctor can detect tenderness in the uterus, and severe patients may exhibit pain upon movement. Second, undergoing an ultrasound examination, where heterogeneous uterine lining echoes can be found. This condition should be considered as a manifestation of endometritis. The third method is to perform diagnostic curettage, and then examine the scraped tissue pathologically. If inflammatory cells are found, endometritis can be definitively diagnosed.


Symptoms of endometritis discharge
When women develop endometritis, the severity of the condition varies depending on the type of bacteria involved, and the characteristics of vaginal discharge also differ. For example, some women may experience mild symptoms, primarily reflected in an increased amount of discharge. Others might have discharge mixed with blood streaks, and some women could have purulent discharge accompanied by an unpleasant odor. If the condition continues to progress, the discharge can become foul-smelling, increase in quantity, and show a significant infiltration of white blood cells. Some women may develop pus accumulation in the uterine cavity, resulting in the presence of purulent discharge.


What is the cause of endometritis?
Endometritis is a common gynecological disease in clinical practice. There are many causes of endometritis, which can lead to inflammatory changes in the endometrial structure. Bacteria can ascend from the vagina and cervix, descend from the fallopian tubes, or reach the endometrium through the lymphatic system, causing the disease. For example, childbirth and the weakened immune response afterward can lead to pathogen invasion if the placenta and membranes are retained. The placental separation surface can be infected by bacteria causing inflammation of the endometrium. Additionally, the placement or removal of an intrauterine device, abortion procedures, dilation and curettage, and medication-induced abortion can also facilitate the invasion of pathogens and trigger endometrial inflammation.


How long does endometritis bleed?
Women experience bleeding due to inflammation of the endometrium, mainly when inflammation occurs, the endometrium becomes congested, edematous, more fragile, and less stable. There is infiltration of inflammatory cells in the endometrium, which may also lead to abnormalities in coagulation function. The extent of lesions varies from person to person, leading to differences in the duration and amount of bleeding. For example, some women may only experience changes in the amount of menstruation, such as increased menstrual flow or prolonged periods lasting over eight days, typically without any bleeding. Others may experience irregular vaginal bleeding, where there is constant, light spotting.


Can endometritis eat beef?
Beef is a very nutritious food, originally a high-protein diet that anyone without allergic symptoms can consume. However, one should not have a biased diet and avoid eating foods that are too cold. Endometritis and the consumption of beef are unrelated. Endometritis primarily requires examination and treatment. It is important to avoid overexertion and maintain a regular lifestyle. During treatment, one should abstain from sexual activity, as it can lead to decreased immunity and worsened inflammation, but this has nothing to do with eating beef.


Why is enema used for endometritis?
Endometritis can be treated with enemas. The enema uses traditional Chinese medicine and is administered rectally, which is the closest access point to the uterus. Administering the enema in this area allows the medicine to be absorbed quickly and reach the uterus effectively. Therefore, the treatment of endometritis is quite effective with this method. Additionally, the Chinese herbal medicine used in the enema is warm, which can locally apply heat to the uterus, promote blood circulation in the pelvic cavity, and effectively treat inflammation. Thus, if one has endometritis, using a traditional Chinese medicine enema is entirely feasible.


Does endometritis cause abdominal pain?
When women suffer from endometritis, they often experience abdominal pain. Endometritis is generally caused by the disruption of the protective function of the female reproductive tract during childbirth or uterine cavity operations, leading to the invasion of pathogens into the reproductive tract and resulting in inflammation of the endometrial lining. Clinically, endometritis is characterized by congestive necrosis of the endometrial lining, with a large amount of purulent secretions in the vagina accompanied by an odor. Therefore, endometritis often involves toe bone pain under these circumstances, and it is important to promptly visit a hospital for examination and treatment.