Inflammation of the ovaries may be related to pelvic infections or endometriosis.
Pelvic infection is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It usually occurs when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries.
Symptoms of a pelvic infection may include:
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
- Fever.
- Unusual and foul-smelling vaginal discharge..
- Pain or bleeding during sexual intercourse.
Treatment is usually oral antibiotics, but sometimes it is necessary to be admitted to hospital for intravenous antibiotic treatment or surgery.
Endometriosis is a benign condition that occurs when the endometrium (the mucous layer that lines the uterus) grows in other parts of the body such as the ovaries, tubes, pelvic area or intestines, among others.
This uterine tissue, which is normally eliminated during menstruation, follows the same process of growth and bleeding during menstruation, but if it is located in other parts of the body it is not eliminated, causing the formation of nodules and cysts with consequent inflammation and pain.
In the ovaries it can manifest itself with the presence of endometriosis cysts, called endometriomas, which create a chronic inflammation that can cause pain in the ovaries, especially during menstruation.
The treatment of endometriosis begins with painkillers to moderate the pain in the case of mild symptoms, but the most effective treatment is hormonal, to stop spontaneous ovulation. In more complex and symptomatic cases, surgery is necessary.
