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, 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:

• sexually transmitted 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 parts of the 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 transmission of 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.

Positive results in the treatment of adnexitis (salpingoophoritis, inflammation of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, appendages) can be achieved by allopathic methods in combination with the use of the experience of traditional medicine, which has proven recipes for how to treat inflammation of the ovaries in women (appendages) at home so that the disease goes away without a trace.

Herbs can heal: relieve pain, inflammation and muscle spasms, destroy microbes, stimulate local and general immune defense. Plants serve as raw materials for preparing water-based decoctions (tinctures) or alcohol-based tinctures.

Rules for preparation and treatment with herbal solutions

To prepare medicinal solutions, utensils made of glass, porcelain, clay or enameled metal are used. It is advisable to purchase herbs at a pharmacy, and not at spontaneous markets.

The medicinal raw material is poured with boiling water, then the decoction/infusion must be infused for 2 hours in a warm place or kept in a water bath for 20-30 minutes to draw out the extractive substances from the plant and make the drink rich. Then it is filtered and used.

The shelf life of water-based medicines in the refrigerator is no more than 2 days, but it is preferable to prepare them immediately before use. Alcohol tinctures retain their properties in a cool place protected from light for up to six months.

You cannot heat prepared solutions in the microwave. If the recipe states “take warm,” then the solution should be diluted with boiling water to the desired temperature.

The dosage for internal use should not exceed the recommended one: increasing the dose does not speed up the healing process, but leads to poisoning.

The course of herbal treatment lasts at least 4 weeks; full recovery may require six months or more.

Herbal treatment is carried out against the background of a gentle diet (it is necessary to exclude fatty, smoked, spicy foods, alcohol and sweets) and abstinence from sexual intercourse.

During the treatment process, short breaks should be taken: a month of treatment, then a 5-7 day break.

For longer breaks, the course has to be started again.

It is advisable to change herbs from month to month, selecting ones that are similar in action, in order to prevent the body from becoming addicted.

A general contraindication for the use of herbal infusions is an acute period of illness and a partial allergic reaction to a medicinal plant.

Recipes

• Hog queen(ramishia one-sided, orthinia one-sided). It is used for many diseases of the reproductive system; each of them has its own dosage regimen, which is prescribed by the doctor. Basic recipe: 2 tablespoons of raw materials per half liter of water. Take a quarter glass 4 times a day before meals. Contraindicated in acute gastritis, decreased blood clotting, obstruction of the fallopian tubes, taking hormonal drugs and contraceptives, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Take a break on the days when your period expires.
• Wintergreen round-leaved. 8 teaspoons of raw materials per 1 liter of boiling water. Take 3 times a day, a quarter glass. Should not be used if you are prone to blood clots, high blood pressure, or varicose veins.
• White acacia. 8 teaspoons of raw material per 1 glass of water. Drink as tea 4-6 times a day. Should not be used for gastritis with reduced secretion.
• St. John's wort. Pour 1 tablespoon of raw material into 1 glass of boiling water and simmer for 15-20 minutes in a water bath. Take a quarter glass 3 times a day. Should not be used if you have high blood pressure or pregnancy. Significantly weakens the effect of contraceptives, cardiac and antibacterial drugs.
• Mixture No. 1 from yellow sweet clover flowers, centaury grass and coltsfoot flowers, mixed in equal parts. 5 tablespoons of the mixture per 1 liter of boiling water. Take a third of a glass 4-6 times a day. The mixture should not be used if there is reduced blood clotting, a tendency to bleeding, pregnancy and breastfeeding, gastritis with increased secretion, stomach and duodenal ulcers, liver diseases.
• Mixture No. 2 from knotweed, cinquefoil, horsetail and centaury, mixed in equal parts. 1 tablespoon per 1 glass of water. After straining, add boiled water to 250 ml and take a quarter glass 4 times a day. The mixture should not be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you are prone to thrombosis, urolithiasis, unstable hypertension, atonic constipation, or diseases of the stomach and intestines.

There are many options for medicinal preparations. The same recipe for the same disease affects different people in completely different ways. Therefore, you should look for the plant that is right for you.

Dry heating

The dry heating method is used only for the chronic course of the disease, in the stage of subsiding of acute manifestations.

Local thermal effects increase blood flow and lymph movement in the diseased organ, help eliminate microbial waste products, suppress their growth, eliminate swelling and congestive inflammation.

It is prohibited to use dry heating in case of any acute inflammatory processes in the body, elevated body temperature, threat of appendicitis or internal bleeding, during menstruation.

Paraffin applications

You can buy paraffin for applications at the pharmacy; it can be used several times; you will need approximately 250-350 g. Melt the substance in a water bath, heating to approximately 70 ВВ°С, then pour it into a container covered with film in a layer 2.5-3 cm thick. After that After 15 minutes, remove the paraffin in the film and wrap it in cotton cloth and apply it to the stomach. Keep the application until the paraffin cake cools.

To enhance the effect of dry heating, before poultice or application, a paste of fresh wormwood minced in a meat grinder is applied to the projection of the ovaries, covered with a film, and a source of dry heat is placed on it, which can also be a regular or electric heating pad.

Read what symptoms you can use to identify ovarian inflammation.

Dry salt poultices

It is better to take sea salt or table salt, coarsely ground and without additives; you will need 2.5-3 kg of it.

Prepare two canvas bags, pour salt heated to approximately 70 ° C into one, and lightly moistened hops in a 2-3 cm layer into the other.

Lie on a sack of salt with your stomach down, placing a bag of hops on your lower back directly opposite it, pressing it down and wrapping yourself in a blanket. The duration of the procedure is 1.5-2 hours. The course is 7 days, then a pause for 3 days, then repeat the course.

Ointment and tampons

You can use medicinal ointments, oils and thick herbal decoctions intravaginally.

When mixing ointments, all ingredients must be at the same temperature.

They should be rubbed thoroughly, until smooth, with a wooden or glass spatula, in one direction, so that the ointment does not separate.

Then the ointment is applied to a gauze swab and inserted into the vagina as deeply as possible.

Do the procedure at night. Course 10-14 days.

To administer the medicine into the vagina, use tampons: twist a cylinder from cotton wool and a bandage like a hygienic tampon, leaving a tail of 8-10 cm at one end.

There is an alternative option for administering the ointment: take the ointment into a two-gram syringe, insert it into the vagina without a needle (!) and smoothly squeeze the contents inside, and then insert a tampon. Take a new syringe for each procedure. This method helps with very dirty ointments.

It is forbidden to use ointment tampons if you have an individual intolerance to the ingredients and menstruation.

During treatment, sexual contact must be excluded. If local disturbing sensations appear, treatment with this drug should be discontinued.

Recipes

• Ointment with iodine. Mix one tablespoon each of glycerin and ichthyol ointment, one teaspoon each of camphor oil and iodine.
• Ointment with propolis. Mix lanolin 50 g, petroleum jelly 40 g, propolis tincture 5 ml.
• Mix honey and aloe equally and soak the tampon. Course 15-21 days.
• Healing oil. Sea buckthorn oil, propolis and honey in equal parts should be thoroughly ground.

Douching

They involve irrigation and washing of the vagina with medicinal herbal solutions - decoctions and infusions, which are prepared immediately before use. The solution should be at body temperature, about 35-37 ВВ°С.

The technology for preparing infusions for douching is similar to the recipe for preparing them for internal use.

The difference is in concentration: for ablutions, take 1 tablespoon of raw material (herbs or a mixture of herbs) per 1 glass of water.

The procedure is performed using a syringe (rubber bulb). Before carrying out the manipulation, the syringe is treated in boiling water.

You should lie in the bathtub on your back, with your feet on its edges. Insert the bulb cannula into the vagina and slowly, smoothly squeeze out the medicine. Remove the cannula and lie down, relaxing, for 5-7 minutes.

In the first three days, the procedure is repeated approximately 12 hours later: in the morning and before bedtime. In subsequent days only at night. The course of treatment is 7-21 days.

It is prohibited to douche in the acute period of illness, during pregnancy, in the postpartum period for 8 weeks, after an abortion for 2 weeks, during menstruation, for women over 45 years of age.

Recipes

• Herbs. Upland uterus, white acacia, chamomile, calendula, celandine, sage - each herb is used individually and in multicomponent collections.
• Collection No. 1. Chamomile, St. John's wort, calendula in equal parts.
• Collection No. 2. Yarrow, sage, rosemary 1 part each and oak bark - 2 parts.

Dry heating performed 1.5-2 hours after douching enhances the effect of intravaginal irrigation.

Pharmacy products

Drug treatment of inflammation of the appendages includes several groups of drugs. Everything is prescribed by the doctor based on the individual characteristics of the patient and the severity of the disease.

Candles. The group is represented by suppositories with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects: Voltaren, Movalis, Indomethacin, Diclofenac, suppositories with belladonna.

The following have an antibacterial effect: Polygynax, Hexicon, Metronidazole, Cefibuten, Zomax, Cedex.

Douching with the use of pharmaceutical drugs also require the preparation of a solution. It should be borne in mind that they will not be subjected to heat treatment, so the preparations must be diluted with clean boiled water.

Use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (1 tablespoon per half liter of water), 1 percent chlorophyllipt tincture (half a tablespoon per half liter of water), calendula tincture.

Ointments. Levomekol, which has activity against bacteria and inflammation, is used for treatment from pharmaceutical ointments. Vishnevsky's ointment has proven itself well.

Prevention

A primary role in the prevention of inflammation of the appendages is played by the prevention of primary and secondary infections of the genital tract. This is achieved subject to the following conditions:

• maintain proper intimate hygiene, teach girls from childhood to take care of the organs of their reproductive system;
• do not use other people's personal items;
• change underwear and pads in a timely manner, and refuse to use sanitary tampons;
• show disgust towards casual sexual relationships, use barrier contraceptives;
• sanitize foci of dormant infection (carious teeth, tonsillitis, sinusitis);
• do not get cold in your legs and pelvic organs: do not sit on stone, metal, or earth; wear loose, non-squeezing clothing made from natural fabrics.

The principles of a healthy lifestyle - a balanced diet, physical activity, an optimal work and rest regime, giving up bad habits, increasing the body's immune forces - have acquired great importance in the prevention of adnexitis and its relapses in the chronic course of the disease.

Video on the topic

Inflammatory pathologies of the reproductive system in women are a common cause of infertility. Inflammation of the ovaries can occur at any age, even in little girls, and in the absence of proper treatment, the pathology becomes chronic, which affects the quality of life of patients.

Oophoritis or inflammation of the ovaries is most often accompanied by an inflammatory process in the fallopian tubes (salpingitis); this disease is called adnexitis or salpingoophoritis. As a result, adhesions occur in the tubes, which interfere with the process of fertilization in the future.

According to statistics, 20% of women who have had adnexitis subsequently cannot conceive a child naturally. To avoid such difficulties, every woman should know what symptoms occur during inflammation of the ovaries, and if they appear, immediately contact a gynecologist.

Ovarian inflammation is an infectious disease that occurs when pathogenic microorganisms enter the organ. Most often, the infection spreads from the fallopian tubes or appendages, from the cervix, so oophoritis as a separate disease is quite rare.

The following microorganisms can provoke pathology:

• staphylococci;
• streptococci;
• gonococci;
• mycoplasma;
• chlamydia;
• trichomonas;
• mushrooms of the genus Candida;
• tuberculosis, etc.

An infection that enters the body does not always cause an inflammatory process in the pelvic organs. The following factors contribute to the onset of the disease:

• hypothermia;
• vitamin deficiency and weak immunity;
• passive lifestyle;
• smoking and drinking alcohol;
• promiscuity;
• early onset of intimate life;
• childbirth and the postpartum period;
• contraception with an intrauterine device;
• abortions and surgical interventions.

The most common cause of ovarian inflammation in women is chlamydia, as well as gonococci and mycoplasma. But infection is possible not only through sexual contact; for example, streptococcal infection can migrate from the upper respiratory tract. Even untreated caries can cause the inflammatory process if the patient has a weakened immune system.

Symptoms

Symptoms of inflammation of the ovaries and appendages in women can manifest themselves in different ways, it all depends on the form of the pathology. Adnexitis can be acute, chronic, or subacute. In the acute form, the symptoms are pronounced, patients complain of the following signs:

• severe pain in the lower abdomen that radiates to the lumbar region;
• painful urination;
• sharp pain during sex;
• temperature rise above 38 degrees;
• discharge due to inflammation of the ovaries can be purulent and bloody;
• general weakness, nausea and vomiting, dizziness.

If a woman has not cured acute adnexitis, then it becomes chronic. This type of pathology is characterized by aching pain in the lower abdomen, pain during sexual intercourse, and problems conceiving a child. The disease periodically worsens, most often in the cold season. In this case, the pain becomes more pronounced, but aching, whitish discharge and disruptions in the menstrual cycle are observed.

Subacute adnexitis is something between the acute and chronic stages of the disease, when the pain subsides, but the inflammatory process does not go away. It is most often observed with mycoplasma.

Symptoms of ovarian inflammation can appear on one or both sides. If inflammation of the left ovary occurs, then adnexitis will be called left-sided, and if the right one, then right-sided. Often both glands are affected at once, in which case bilateral adnexitis is diagnosed.

Diagnostics

Pain in the lower abdomen is a sign of a huge list of diseases, for example, endometriosis, ovarian cysts and even appendicitis. To confirm the presence of an inflammatory process, it is necessary to undergo tests and undergo instrumental examination.

First of all, the patient should contact the antenatal clinic. Ovarian inflammation is a disease that requires immediate medical attention. With acute pain, a woman can safely call an ambulance, or go to the clinic without a queue or coupons, having a compulsory medical insurance policy in her hands.

The doctor will conduct a gynecological examination on a chair, interview the woman and take an anamnesis. The next step will be to take a vaginal smear, blood and urine, this will help detect the infection. To identify the pathogen, a PRC analysis is prescribed, as well as bacterial culture to check the sensitivity of antibiotics.

The patient must undergo ultrasound diagnostics of the pelvic organs. Using an ultrasound, the doctor will be able to confirm the presence of an inflammatory process in the ovaries, as well as assess the stage of the disease.

If the patient has a chronic form of ovarian inflammation, as well as infertility due to pathology, hysterosalpingoscopy may be performed. Using this procedure, the doctor can check the patency of the fallopian tubes and see adhesions. The procedure is painless and is performed through the vagina.

The most unpleasant method for a woman, but the most informative, is laparoscopy. This is a surgical method for diagnosing and treating pelvic pathologies. Using laparoscopy, the doctor can see all adhesions and foci of inflammation, remove the affected tissue and restore the patency of the fallopian tubes.

The specialist selects diagnostic methods individually, everything depends on the preliminary diagnosis made by the doctor and the patient’s complaints. If a woman does not complain of infertility, the disease has arisen for the first time, then it will be enough to conduct an ultrasound and laboratory tests.

Treatment

Signs of inflammation of the genital organs in a woman require immediate consultation with a doctor. Treatment of ovarian inflammation in the acute stage requires bed rest; it is usually recommended to undergo therapy in a hospital setting. First, the woman is prescribed medication:

• Injections of antibiotics, for example, Ceftriaxone or Amoxicillin, the drug is selected individually, depending on the pathogen;
• Anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers, such as ibuprofen;
• Antihistamines.
• Vitamins, immunomodulators.
• Anti-inflammatory suppositories with an antibiotic, subsequently with lactobacilli to restore the vaginal microflora.

The most important condition for cure is the correct prescription and use of antibiotics. First of all, you need to choose the right drug; for staphylococcal infections, you need to take drugs from the group of penicillins, aminoglycosides, and for anaerobic infections, metronidazole. Infection with Candida fungi will require taking an antifungal agent, etc.

If the patient decides to self-medicate, she can easily make a mistake in choosing a drug. It is not enough for the product to fight the desired bacteria. It is necessary that the antibiotic accumulates in the required concentration in the ovaries, otherwise the treatment will be ineffective and the pathology will become chronic.

When choosing the form of the drug, preference is given to intramuscular injections; in more severe cases, the drug is administered intravenously, and in mild forms of the disease, you can take tablets for ovarian inflammation.

If a woman is prescribed intramuscular injections, she should pay attention to the fact that such injections are quite painful. This causes a lot of inconvenience, given that injections need to be done quite often, at least 2 times a day, for at least a week. Therefore, it is worth talking to your doctor about the possibility of using novocaine and lidocaine when giving an injection, then the injections will be completely painless. But a woman must take care of purchasing an anesthetic on her own.

Physiotherapy

The next mandatory stage of treatment is attending physical therapy. As a rule, procedures are prescribed in the chronic form of the disease during the period of remission, as well as during recovery after stopping the acute inflammatory process.

Physiotherapy methods used to treat inflammation of the appendages, ovaries and fallopian tubes in women:

• magnetic therapy;
• laser;
• electrophoresis with medicine;
• ultraphonophoresis;
• ultrasound treatment;
• heating with paraffin;
• mud treatment;
• balneotherapy.

Women with chronic inflammation are advised to undergo sanatorium-resort treatment at least once a year, preferably at sea. Warming up and exposure to salt water has a beneficial effect on the body, improves blood circulation, and strengthens the immune system.

Nutrition

Salpingoophoritis is a very serious pathology that requires an integrated approach, including proper nutrition. A woman needs to try with all her might to restore the immune system and help the body eliminate the infection faster.

In the acute and chronic stages of ovarian inflammation, it is recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits, preferably fresh, as well as greens. After taking antibiotics, you need to eat fermented milk products every day, but only completely natural ones, which have a short shelf life. This will help restore the microflora in the intestines and vagina.

In general, nutrition should be balanced, not very high in calories and light, especially during bed rest. It is recommended to avoid the following products:

• sausage, smoked meats, various salty delicacies;
• fatty meat;
• fried food;
• salty and fatty cheeses;
• canned food, pickled and salted foods;
• gas-producing foods such as peas and corn;
• sweets, soda;
• semi-finished products, fast food, questionable food in cafes and restaurants.

While taking antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol; there is a high risk of complications. In addition, ethyl alcohol disrupts the treatment process, as it causes vasospasm and poor circulation. As a result, the already diseased ovaries do not receive normal nutrition and suffer even more. For the same reason, smoking is prohibited; nicotine has the same effect on the vascular system, disrupting blood circulation.

Operation

Treatment of acute ovarian inflammation is conservative. If adhesions have formed in the pelvis due to the disease, surgical intervention will be required. Surgery may also be indicated for suppuration in the fallopian tube. This complication is very life-threatening for a woman and requires removal of this organ.

Currently, surgical treatment is carried out mainly by laparoscopy. This is a minimally invasive technique in which the surgeon does not make large incisions, so long-term rehabilitation is not required. The specialist makes several holes into which he inserts instruments and a laparoscope with a video camera at the end. This is how the doctor carries out all the manipulations.

Often, the indication for surgery is infertility due to inflammatory processes in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and appendages. With the help of laparoscopy, it is possible to restore the patency of the fallopian tubes by removing adhesions, which gives the chance to conceive a child naturally.

If the consequences of inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes are irreversible, then the woman may be advised to remove the fallopian tubes altogether and undergo fertilization using IVF. In this case, the chances of successfully conceiving and carrying a child increase.

Folk

It is strictly not recommended to treat ovarian inflammation at home; it is fraught with serious complications. If a woman has pain in her lower abdomen, especially with an increase in body temperature, she should immediately go to the doctor, and if the pain is severe, call an ambulance.

Acute inflammation of the ovaries cannot be treated with folk remedies, especially by heating. If you heat a bacterial infection, the bacteria will begin to actively divide, which will lead to severe suppuration and the need for surgical treatment.

Chronic salpingoophoritis can be treated using folk remedies, but first it is recommended to consult a doctor about the advisability of using such methods of therapy.

You should not neglect medications prescribed by your doctor, or try to treat minors with folk remedies. It must be remembered that the reproductive system of girls is not yet formed and any questionable actions can make the baby infertile forever.

Recipes that are used for chronic adnexitis:

• Shilajit is effective for this pathology; it can be purchased in tablet form at a pharmacy and taken 1 tablet on an empty stomach.
• To strengthen the immune system, experts recommend drinking propolis tincture.
• Chamomile decoction will help relieve the nasty pain and fall asleep; it has a mild anti-inflammatory and calming effect.
• Very effective warm baths with sea salt and herbal decoctions.
• In the chronic form of the disease in remission, paraffin lotions on the lower abdomen will be useful.
• Douching with chamomile, sage, oak bark and nettle will be useful. But you should not get carried away with this method, so as not to disturb the vaginal microflora.
• For chronic adnexitis, it is recommended to insert tampons with Dimexide. The solution can be bought at a pharmacy; before use, it must be diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:4, otherwise Dimexide can cause a burn. Tampons are made from gauze and cotton wool, which are moistened in a solution and inserted into the vagina overnight.
• Vishnevsky ointment for inflammation of the appendages and ovaries is also quite effective. It is applied to a homemade tampon made of cotton wool and gauze, and then inserted into the vagina overnight.
• Tampons with sea buckthorn oil and propolis are very effective.
• Many people recommend tampons with aloe juice, as this plant has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect.

There are a lot of folk remedies for the treatment of chronic ovarian inflammation. Before using them, you need to make sure that the cause of pain in the lower abdomen is chronic adnexitis. You should not be treated with such methods for endometriosis, cancer, acute inflammatory processes, ovarian cysts, this can be very dangerous. You also need to make sure that there is no allergy to the components of the product.

Prevention

Infertility in the modern world is a very common problem. Increasingly, young women are turning to reproductive specialists to help them get pregnant. To avoid such a violation, you need to teach a girl to take care of her health from childhood, this will help to significantly reduce the likelihood of inflammation of the genital organs and subsequent complications.

• Starting from the first menstruation, a girl should be examined by a gynecologist every 6 months.
• After childbirth, abortion, or surgery, you need to regularly visit a gynecologist for the first six months, as there is a high risk of complications.
• It is recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right, avoid drinking alcohol, drugs and smoking.
• It is necessary to do exercises. A passive lifestyle is one of the main reasons for the formation of adhesions in the pelvis and infertility.
• A woman should pay attention to her sex life. You should not have unprotected sex with men whose health you are not sure of. Infection with an STI is the first step to inflammation of the ovaries and appendages, followed by infertility.
• You cannot have sex without protection if a woman does not want to give birth now. Abortion is a serious burden on the body, which can lead to absolute infertility.
• It is very important to dress according to the weather; you should not get too cold.

To avoid having to ask a doctor how to treat ovarian inflammation, it is better not to bring your body to such a state. It must be remembered that a woman’s health is primarily in her hands.

Inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis)– inflammatory process of paired female reproductive glands. Can be one- or two-sided. Often occurs with simultaneous inflammation of the fallopian tubes, in acute or chronic form. In acute inflammation, severe pain in the lower abdomen, fever, dysuria, and leucorrhoea are noted. The chronic form is characterized by pain and menstrual irregularities (metrorrhagia). The accumulation of pus in the ovary can lead to pelvioperitonitis, and in the long-term prognosis there is a risk of secondary infertility as a result of impaired ovarian function. For oophoritis, the diagnostic search includes a gynecological examination, ultrasound, hysterosalpingoscopy, bacteriological studies, and, if indicated, diagnostic laparoscopy.

Symptoms of ovarian inflammation

Inflammation of the ovaries can develop acutely, subacutely and chronically, with its own characteristics.

The acute form of ovarian inflammation is characterized by the following symptoms:

• constant, one- or two-sided, severe pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the lower back and sacrum;
• frequent urination with pain and cutting;
• sometimes abundant purulent and serous discharge from the genital tract;
• increased temperature, fever, general malaise;
• sharp pain during sexual intercourse;
• bleeding between periods.

During a gynecological examination, the ovaries are enlarged and very painful. In case of acute inflammation of the ovaries, hospitalization and treatment in a hospital are required. Subacute form of inflammation of the ovaries - rarely observed, usually with tuberculosis or mycotic infection. Acute inflammation of the ovaries, with timely and correct treatment, can result in complete recovery. Untreated acute inflammation of the ovaries acquires a protracted chronic course, with periods of exacerbations.

Periods of exacerbation of chronic ovarian inflammation are characterized by:

• dull, aching pain in the vagina, lower abdomen, groin area, intensifying before menstruation, against the background of colds, from hypothermia;
• disorders in the menstrual cycle, ovarian dysfunction;
• the presence of scanty but constant discharge (leucorrhoea);
• sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, pain during intercourse);
• lack of pregnancy despite regular sex life.

On examination, the ovaries are enlarged and sensitive to palpation. As a rule, chronic inflammation of the ovaries is accompanied by changes in the neuropsychic state of a woman: irritability and poor sleep, decreased performance and fatigue.

Complications that develop after inflammation of the ovaries are always dangerous for a woman’s reproductive function: disruption of the menstrual cycle and ovarian function, adhesions and obstruction of the fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous miscarriage, infertility, sexual dysfunction, inflammatory processes in other organs (pyelonephritis, cystitis, colitis).

Diagnosis of ovarian inflammation

The symptoms of ovarian inflammation are quite vague, in the acute form they are similar to the symptoms of an acute abdomen in various diseases: appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis, ovarian cyst and cystoma, peritonitis, etc. Due to these circumstances, the diagnosis of oophoritis is often difficult.

A reliable diagnosis of ovarian inflammation is based on the results of:

• gynecological history data (the presence of previous inflammation of the uterine appendages, STDs, abortions, complications of childbirth, intrauterine diagnostic procedures), and anamnesis of the present disease (the nature and localization of pain, the presence of discharge, hypothermia, general well-being);
• laboratory tests (with inflammation of the ovaries, an increased level of leukocytes is noted in general blood and urine tests; smears from the vagina and urethra);
• gynecological examination (inflammation of the ovaries is determined by their enlargement and pain, impaired mobility of the uterine appendages);
• Ultrasound diagnostics of the pelvic organs;
• bacteriological examination, PCR diagnostics, ELISA, RIF (identify the causative agent of inflammation, hidden infections). If specific (gonorrheal or tuberculosis) inflammation of the ovaries is suspected, additional studies are carried out;
• hysterosalpingoscopy (detects gross anatomical changes in the fallopian tubes that occur with chronic inflammation of the ovaries);
• laparoscopy is the most informative method for diagnosing ovarian inflammation (makes it possible to directly examine the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, and differentiate the diagnosis). Indications for laparoscopy are long-term infertility, chronic pain in the lower abdomen of unknown origin, inflammation of the ovaries that does not respond to complex treatment. In case of chronic inflammation of the ovaries, laparoscopy reveals a violation of the patency of the fallopian tubes, their infection, adhesions, the presence of formations in the fallopian tubes and ovaries (pyosalpinx, pyovar), adhesions in the pelvis. The severity of changes in the pelvic organs depends on the duration of chronic ovarian inflammation and the frequency of relapses.

Treatment of ovarian inflammation

Chronic and advanced forms of ovarian inflammation take longer and more difficult to treat than cases of timely treatment of patients, and can lead to complications requiring surgical intervention (oophorectomy, adnexectomy). After making a diagnosis of ovarian inflammation and identifying the causative agent, the doctor prescribes an individual course of treatment. As a rule, drug therapy for ovarian inflammation is complemented by non-drug therapy. Recently, there has been growing interest in non-drug therapy, which gynecology uses in the treatment of ovarian inflammation, while the use of antibiotics is limited.

The choice of antibiotic in the treatment of ovarian inflammation is determined by the pathogen isolated during bacterial culture and its sensitivity to this drug. The use of antibacterial drugs in the treatment of chronic ovarian inflammation is justified in the following cases:

• relapse of chronic inflammation of the ovaries, if the clinical manifestations clearly indicate an increase in the inflammatory process;
• if treatment with antibiotics and sulfonamides was not carried out in the acute or subacute stage of chronic ovarian inflammation;
• if, in the process of physiotherapy and restorative therapy, an exacerbation of chronic ovarian inflammation occurs.

The goal of treatment of chronic inflammation of the ovaries is to provide an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effect, pain relief, increase the body's immune reactivity, restore functional disorders of the genital organs, as well as the resulting disorders of the hormonal, nervous, and vascular systems of the body.

Typically, a course of potent antibiotics for inflammation of the ovaries is complemented by physiotherapeutic procedures (magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, laser therapy) to reduce the risk of adhesions and subsequent obstruction of the fallopian tubes. For inflammation of the ovaries, mud therapy, hirudotherapy and gynecological massage are also prescribed. Analgesic methods for inflammation of the ovaries (acupuncture, physiotherapy) reduce and stop pain that negatively affects the functioning of the body as a whole. During exacerbations of chronic ovarian inflammation, immunomodulatory drugs are used to increase the body's defenses.

There are many traditional methods for treating ovarian inflammation (mainly herbal medicine), which can be used prophylactically or as an additional treatment to the main treatment. Treatment for ovarian inflammation can be lengthy, but it must be completed. If STIs have been identified, the sexual partner must also undergo a simultaneous course of treatment (to avoid the development of prostatitis and infertility). It is better to stop sexual activity during treatment for ovarian inflammation.

Prevention of ovarian inflammation is very important. Women need to avoid hypothermia, overwork, stress, and observe personal hygiene rules. As a preventative measure, you need to consult a gynecologist at least 2 times a year. A healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, and the exclusion of casual sex and abortion will help prevent the development of ovarian inflammation and related complications.

Salpingoophoritis is an inflammation of the uterine appendages. This disease combines damage to the fallopian tubes and ovaries, since it is their combined inflammation that occurs most often. The reason that inflammation of the left ovary or inflammation of the right ovary develops, damage to the fallopian tubes, is exposure to infectious agents. Moreover, the inflammatory process can be caused by both pathogenic microorganisms and opportunistic microorganisms, which can normally be present in the vaginal flora. This pathology is dangerous, since an incompletely cured inflammatory process can cause the development of adhesions, and, as a result, infertility.

Causes of ovarian inflammation

Signs of inflammation of the appendages

Both the pathology of the right and inflammation of the left ovary have similar symptoms. The disease can occur in an acute form, when the clinical picture is pronounced, there is hyperthermia, intense pain, as well as in subacute and chronic.

With acute inflammation of the ovaries, a sharp increase in temperature develops. Hyperthermia can reach 39-40 degrees. A characteristic symptom is intense pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the lumbar region. The pain can intensify with even minimal physical activity, sexual intercourse, or lifting weights. Characteristic signs of intoxication syndrome are: severe weakness, malaise, nausea, possibly vomiting, excessive sweating, chills. Severe lesions may be accompanied by purulent vaginal discharge. This symptom indicates that the fallopian tubes are also involved in the process, which is very dangerous, since there is a risk of their purulent melting. Such damage to the fallopian tubes can lead to their complete obstruction. The transition of purulent inflammation into the abdominal cavity leads to the development of peritonitis.

This disease requires immediate seeking qualified help. Treatment should be started immediately. Delayed therapy or incomplete recovery leads to chronicity of the process.

Inflammation of the ovaries in chronic form does not manifest itself in any way during the period of remission. During exacerbation, the symptoms resemble an acute lesion, but are erased. There may be no hyperthermia, the intensity of the pain syndrome is lower. Characterized by constant aching pain on the side of inflammation. Inflammation of the left ovary is accompanied by pain in the left iliac region, of the right - in the right (differential diagnosis with appendicitis and other diseases of the abdominal organs is necessary). Chronic oophoritis is characterized by symptoms such as menstrual irregularities and reproductive dysfunction. Chronic oophoritis or salpingoophoritis is the most common cause of ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

Treatment

Acute inflammation of the right, inflammation of the left ovary requires immediate, inpatient treatment. The main method is powerful antibacterial therapy. Antibiotics are selected taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen. For this purpose, an appropriate examination is carried out: polymerase chain reaction, immunological diagnostics, bacteriological examination. Until the results of these studies are received, empirical antibiotic therapy is prescribed: the specialist determines the most likely cause of the disease (different pathogens can cause different symptoms), prescribes a drug to which these microorganisms are most sensitive.

In addition to antibiotic therapy, painkillers, anti-inflammatory therapy, and detoxification measures are prescribed. Only after the acute condition has been relieved is it possible to add physiotherapeutic procedures.

Chronic inflammation of the right ovary and inflammation of the left ovary are more difficult to treat. Treatment includes the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and measures are necessarily taken to improve protective mechanisms and strengthen the immune system. Specific therapy is carried out to reduce the adhesive process. Sometimes surgical intervention is required, the purpose of which is to restore the patency of the fallopian tubes. Laparoscopic intervention is more often performed.

Inflammation of the ovaries is a disease that can occur without pronounced symptoms, but has dire consequences. According to statistics, obstruction of the tubes due to the inflammatory process is the main cause of infertility, and in some cases the only chance of getting pregnant is in vitro fertilization. Any disorders of the reproductive system organs (abdominal pain, discharge, menstrual irregularities), as well as hyperthermia of unknown origin, require seeking professional help. It is not for nothing that when women are hospitalized in any hospital, a gynecological examination is required. Attentive and careful attitude to your health is the key to happy motherhood.