Patient's question:
I have been experiencing left abdominal pain recently. The doctor initially diagnosed it as adnexal thickening. Now, I always have lower back pain, bloating, prolonged periods, and feel like my abdomen is cold every day. I've seen a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and taken a few herbal remedies, but there hasn't been much improvement. I plan to go to the gynecology hospital this week to get an ultrasound first to determine what the problem is. Do you think that's a good idea? What do you think the condition might be? What exactly does adnexitis include?Doctor's answer:
Hello: It should be diagnosed. In the female internal reproductive organs, the fallopian tubes and ovaries are called adnexa of the uterus. Therefore, strictly speaking, adnexitis refers to the inflammation of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. However, fallopian tube and ovary inflammation often occur concurrently with parametritis and pelvic peritonitis, and they are also difficult to distinguish during diagnosis. As a result, pelvic peritonitis and parametritis are also included in the scope of adnexitis. Adnexitis is a common disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms invading the reproductive organs, leading to infection of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. It is divided into acute and chronic types. Bacteria can invade the reproductive organs during childbirth or during the performance of induced abortion procedures. They can also enter due to poor hygiene during menstruation, unclean menstrual hygiene products, or swimming and sexual intercourse during menstruation, allowing bacteria to take advantage of the opportunity.Acute adnexitis has obvious symptoms, such as fever, chills, and severe lower abdominal pain. Chronic adnexitis presents with varying degrees of abdominal pain, a sense of heaviness and pulling in the lower abdomen, which may fluctuate in intensity, accompanied by increased vaginal discharge, lower back pain, and menstrual disorders.