The main treatment for endometritis is antibiotics, although on rare occasions surgery may be necessary to treat the condition. Endometritis is the inflammation or irritation of the uterine wall lining. It can be caused by an infection, such as gonorrhea, or from natural vaginal bacteria. In his book, "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy," Dr. Roger W. Harms writes that endometritis may occur in up to 8 percent of women after they give birth. Symptoms of endometritis include vaginal discharge, abdominal swelling and fever.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics successfully treat most cases of endometritis. Physicians use drugs such as doxycycline, penicillin, ampicillin, gentamicin and clindamycin to treat endometris. Dr. Jordi Rello writes in his book, "Infectious Diseases in Critical Care," that in 90 percent of cases, women experience improvement within 48 to 72 hours. In complicated cases, a physician may choose to administer an intravenous solution of antibiotics to a patient in the hospital.
Surgery
In rare cases, a woman does not respond to the initial round of antibiotics. Because endometritis can follow pregnancy, this may be due to retained tissue from the pregnancy. In such cases, a dilatation and curettage, or D&C, procedure may be required. During a D&C, a physician will enlarge the uterine opening and use a sharp instrument or a suction device to remove the uterine lining. The procedure is usually followed by a round of antibiotics. After the procedure, a woman may experience slight bleeding or cramping.
Risk Factors for Endometritis
Certain factors increase the risk for developing endometritis. In the January 2010 issue of "Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology," Dr. Margaret A. Olsen writes that young, pregnant women from low socioeconomic backgrounds are at greater risk of developing endometritis. The lack of health insurance also increases risk, as does having anemia and receiving a blood transfusion.
References
- "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy"; Roger W. Harms, M.D., April 2004
- "Infectious Diseases in Critical Care"; Jordi Rello, M.D., October 2001
- "Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology"; Risk Factors for Endometritis after Low Transverse Cesarean Delivery; Margaret A. Olsen, Ph.D., M.P.H.; January 2010
