Salpingoophoritis or adnexitis is an inflammatory process of the uterine appendages, which is one of the most common and dangerous gynecological pathologies. The main danger of adnexitis is that the inflammatory process of the appendages often leads to the development of adhesions in the pelvis, which is one of the main causes of infertility in women of reproductive age. With untimely treatment of acute salpingo-oophoritis, the process can turn into chronic adnexitis and lead to a large number of complications.
Clinical picture and diagnostic methods of chronic adnexitis
Chronic adnexitis in most cases is the result of acute salpingo-oophoritis that has been transferred and incorrectly or untimely treated. A decrease in the activity of the body's immune system, as well as the individual properties of the pathogen that provoked the inflammatory process, can also be attributed to the main causes of chronic adnexitis. This disease has a nonspecific clinical picture, which greatly complicates the diagnostic process. Nevertheless, timely detection and treatment of pathology is the key to preserving the reproductive function of a woman.
Chronic adnexitis:
- what changes in chronic adnexitis occur in the uterine appendages;
- clinical picture of chronic adnexitis: leading symptoms;
- the main methods for diagnosing chronic adnexitis.
What changes in chronic adnexitis occur in the uterine appendages
Chronic adnexitis is always accompanied by the development of inflammatory infiltrates in the connective tissue of the wall of the fallopian tubes, as a result of which hydrosalpinxes are often formed - accumulations of fluid in the cavity of the fallopian tubes. In the ovaries with chronic adnexitis, dystrophic tissue changes occur. In addition, due to the narrowing of the lumen of the vessels supplying the uterine appendages, there is a violation of the microcirculation in the ovaries and a decrease in their secretory function. As a result, adhesions form between the tubes, ovaries, uterus, pelvic wall, bladder, omentum, and bowel loops. Chronic adnexitis has a protracted course, under certain conditions often giving exacerbations of the pathology.
Clinical picture of chronic adnexitis: leading symptoms
The clinical picture of chronic adnexitis is based on pain syndrome, which causes its atypicality. Pain occurs in the lower abdomen, has a dull, aching character, can be given to the lower back, rectum, thigh. The intensity of the pain syndrome differs for each individual patient. After hypothermia, menstruation, stressful situations, the pain can increase significantly. In addition to pain in chronic adnexitis, symptoms such as:
- psycho-emotional disorders - irritability, sleep disturbances, depressive states, etc.;
- vegetative disorders;
- menstrual disorders: menometrorrhagia, hypomenstrual and premenstrual syndromes;
- infertility;
- Sexual function disorders: decreased libido, pain during intercourse.
Basic methods for diagnosing chronic adnexitis
The diagnostic process of chronic adnexitis is often difficult, since its leading symptom is pain in the lower abdomen, which is a frequent companion of many other pathological processes in the pelvis and abdominal organs. Important information can be obtained from a correctly collected anamnesis, since the patient can talk about previously transferred inflammatory processes in the small pelvis and, in particular, about acute salpingo-oophoritis. A bimanual digital examination reveals limited mobility of the body of the uterus due to adhesive processes, as well as the formation of an elongated shape in the area of the uterine appendages, which is explained by hydrosalpinx. Instrumental research methods, such as hysterosalpingography and hydrosonography also help to identify the adhesive process - the accumulation of a contrast agent in closed cavities is visualized. The most valuable information can be obtained with the help of laparoscopy, which allows not only to examine the pelvic organs, but also to apply therapeutic measures for chronic adnexitis.
Share:
Add a comment