Is ovarian inflammation contagious?

If ovarian inflammation remains undetected, it can become chronic and lead to infertility. If left untreated, the inflammation spreads and adhesions develop on the fallopian tubes. As a result, the fallopian tubes are restricted in their function and can no longer take up and transport the egg coming from the ovary. As a result, the body can no longer provide mature egg cells for fertilisation and the woman becomes infertile.

Causes

Inflammation of the ovaries is mostly caused by bacterial pathogens that rise through the vaginal access. As a rule, before the inflammatory processes begin, the bacteria are spread from the vagina. The direct connection between the vagina, cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes facilitates bacterial colonization of the adnexes.

In most cases, the transition between cervix and uterus is very narrow and sealed by a mucus plug. However, the viscosity of this mucus plug changes at the time of ovulation due to the cycle. The mucus usually becomes much thinner and can therefore be penetrated better by sperm cells.

The change in viscosity of the mucus plug between the cervix and uterus is therefore quite deliberate in terms of a possible egg fertilisation. Nevertheless, this phenomenon offers an ideal point of attack for bacterial pathogens. At the time of ovulation, it is therefore easier to infect the female reproductive organs.

In addition, bacterial ascension and thus infection of the ovaries is much easier, even during menstruation. The reason for this is the fact that the cervix is less tightly closed during menstrual bleeding to ensure blood passage. Risk factors for the development of inflammation of the ovaries: young age (especially between 15 and 25 years) frequently changing sexual partners vaginal contraceptives such as the coil smoking regular vaginal irrigation surgical procedures (for example, a curettage or termination of pregnancy) Especially during pregnancy, pain in the ovaries can be caused by inflammation.

You can read more about this topic under Pain in the ovaries during pregnancy

Young age (especially between 15 and 25 years)
Frequently changing sexual partners
Vaginal contraceptives like the coil
Smoking
Regular vaginal irrigation
Surgical interventions (for example, curettage or abortion)
Previous inflammation of the ovaries

The main symptom of inflammation of the ovaries is the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen. Typically, a pelvic inflammation does not lead to a creeping onset of symptoms. The pain usually occurs suddenly and with great intensity.

In addition, in most cases the symptoms are more pronounced on one side. The majority of affected women also report a significant increase in pain during sexual intercourse or menstrual bleeding. Other typical symptoms that indicate the presence of inflammation of the ovaries are general symptoms such as fever and/or chills and bloody to purulent vaginal discharge.

Typically, the symptoms first appear a few days before ovulation or menstruation when inflammation of the ovaries is present. If the inflammatory processes are not restricted to the ovaries alone, but also affect neighboring abdominal organs, further organ-specific symptoms may occur. If the intestines are infiltrated, the affected women usually also suffer from severe abdominal cramps, nausea and constipation.

Impaired liver function leads to gallstones-like symptoms with pain in the right upper abdomen. In many cases, however, inflammation of the ovaries causes no symptoms at all and goes unnoticed for a long period of time. This fact makes diagnosis more difficult and increases the risk of secondary diseases.

In the course of the inflammatory processes, adhesions within the abdominal cavity may occur in the long term. If these adhesions are located directly on the ovaries, the transport of mature egg cells may be affected. In severe cases, the migration of the egg via the fallopian tube into the uterus may even completely stop.

As a result, the affected women often become infertile. In addition, severe adhesions can cause fertilised eggs to persist in the area of the fallopian tube, resulting in a so-called “ectopic pregnancy“.This is a potentially life-threatening emergency situation, as the growth of the fetus within the fallopian tube can lead to perforations and severe internal bleeding. The leading symptom of ovarian inflammation is severe abdominal pain, which can radiate into the back and groin.

Typically, the pain cannot be localized exactly and the entire lower abdomen is extremely sensitive to pressure. During the examination, the doctor palpates the ovaries through the vagina. If strong pain is felt, this is a clear sign of ovarian inflammation.

Ovarian inflammation is typically accompanied by flu-like symptoms. The body’s own immune system reacts to the inflammation with a defensive reaction. In the course of this reaction, the body temperature rises to inhibit the reproduction and spread of pathogens and to kill bacteria.

The fever is an important mechanism of the body to contain and fight the inflammation. High fever is a classic sign of pelvic inflammatory disease and an indication that a doctor must be consulted immediately. The pain caused by acute ovarian inflammation typically radiates to the entire lower abdomen.

In many cases, the pain is not clearly localized and can extend into the back, resulting in back pain. Depending on the pathogen, the inflammation of the ovaries can also affect the intestines, as they are located in the abdominal cavity in direct proximity to the ovaries. Other common symptoms of ovarian inflammation are therefore digestive problems.

Patients suffer from constipation or diarrhea, which can also occur alternately. Typically, this results in mucous-purulent stool discharge. In addition to antibiotics, the doctor can also prescribe medication that helps against the diarrhoea or light laxatives.

In the case of adnexitis, the inflammatory reaction in the body also leads to the formation of pus. Pus is formed in the course of the immune system‘s defensive reaction and consists of killed pathogens, broken tissue and destroyed immune cells, the so-called granulocytes. The pus can either accumulate in the free abdominal cavity or be present in the form of abscesses (purulent encapsulated foci). In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the pus.