Does endometritis affect pregnancy?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on September 19, 2024
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When endometritis occurs, it affects a woman's ability to become pregnant normally. This is because endometritis causes abnormalities in a woman's menstrual cycle and vaginal discharge. If the endometrium is not actively treated, it can easily progress to chronic endometritis. Recurrent episodes can lead to adhesions, contractions, and narrowing of the uterine cavity, all of which can impact pregnancy. Even if fertilization occurs between the sperm and egg, forming a zygote, if the inflammation persists and is not well managed, it can also easily lead to miscarriage. Therefore, it is crucial to actively treat endometritis when it occurs.

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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.

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Does endometritis require curettage?

Endometritis does not routinely require curettage because performing curettage during an active infection can spread the inflammation, which is not conducive to the treatment of endometritis. However, if there is a suspicion of endometritis combined with endometrial tumors, it is necessary to perform diagnostic curettage after three days of anti-inflammatory treatment to obtain endometrial tissue for pathological biopsy for a definitive diagnosis. Additionally, if the treatment for endometritis is not effective, it may also be necessary to scrape a small amount of endometrial tissue for bacterial culture to confirm the diagnosis, guiding the selection of antibiotic treatment.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What should not be eaten with endometritis?

Endometritis is caused when bacteria opportunistically enter the uterus due to a decrease in a woman's immunity, leading to congestion and edema of the endometrial lining. During endometritis, it is important to pay attention to diet. Consuming food that causes flare-ups, such as seafood like salmon, hairtail, shrimp, and others, can have side effects. These foods intensify internal damp-heat and after consumption, may result in an increase in vaginal discharge and itching of the vulva. Additionally, it is also advisable to avoid irritant foods such as tobacco and alcohol, as their long-term presence in the body is not conducive to disease recovery. It is best to choose fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as protein-rich foods like eggs, lean meats, and dairy, all of which are beneficial for the recovery from endometritis.

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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.

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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.