Postpartum Endometritis

If you're expecting a baby, or if you've just given birth, the last thing you probably want to worry about is a problem related to "down there." Even so, childbirth, whether it occurs naturally or via Cesarean section, is traumatic for the body. As a result, women who give birth are at risk for developing postpartum complications. Postpartum endometritis is a postpartum complication that, although easily treatable, can cause serious side effects.

What It Is

• Endometritis is inflammation or irritation of the womb (uterus). Postpartum endometritis is uterine inflammation or irritation that occurs only after a woman gives birth.

Cause

• Both bacterial and viral infections may cause endometritis--many of the agents that cause endometritis are naturally present in the vagina,. Examples of bacterias and viruses related to endometritis include chlamydia, gonorrhea, group B streptococci and E coli. Endometritis occurs commonly after delivery because delivery results in tears, rips or incisions in the vagina, cervix or uterus that allow these agents to enter the uterine lining.

Prevalence

• Healthline reports that postpartum edometritis occurs in 1 to 3 percent of women who have vaginal deliveries. Women who have planned Cesareans experience this condition at around 5 to 15 percent, while those who have a Cesarean after long labor and rupture of the amniotic membranes have the highest prevalence at around 35 percent. Risk increases for those who have pre-existing conditions, multiple vaginal exams during labor and who are younger, according to The New York Times.

Symptoms

• Healthline indicates that symptoms of postpartum endometritis include a fever of 100.4 or higher that develops between 24 and 48 hours after delivery. This window is given because some elevated temperature is normal immediately after delivery. Those with the condition also may experience foul-smelling or odd-colored vaginal discharge, pain the abdomen, rapid heart rate and uterine tenderness.

Treatment

• If left untreated, postpartum endometritis may result in serious complications such as septic shock, the formation of pelvic/uterine abscesses and infertility. Doctors have a simple method of avoiding these complications, however--they administer intravenous and oral antibiotics or antiviral medications. Examples of medications used for postpartum endometritis include Mzxiprime, Mezlin and Primaxin.

  The New York Times emphasizes the fact that screening for sexually transmitted diseases, good hygiene and sterilization practices by individuals and health care providers, and safe sex practices all may reduce the number of endometritis cases that necessitate treatment.