How to Test for Uterine Infection

Uterine infections, although rare, do occasionally occur in women. The uterus can become infected by a variety of bacteria. Uterine infections are treated with antibiotics. The infection becomes apparent when a woman has lower abdominal discomfort which is stronger on one side than on the other. The woman’s temperature and the pulse can also be slightly elevated.

The main cause of a uterine infection is when a small portion of the placenta that forms when a woman is pregnant fails to pass during delivery. Some common signs and symptoms of a uterine infection include infertility or recurrent miscarriages; periods that stop or become very light; pelvic pain or painful menstrual periods.

Instructions

How to Test for a Uterine Infection

• 1

  Have the doctor do a swab inside your uterus and send the sample to a laboratory for testing. A bacteriological culture can be performed to find out what the specific bacteria is so you can get proper antibiotic therapy.

• 2

  Ask for a blood test if you have abnormal bleeding to determine if you have anemia. This may support a diagnosis of a uterine infection.

• 3

  Get a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). This is an X-ray that looks at the inside of the uterus. A dye is injected through a thin tube that is inserted through the vagina and into the uterus. X-ray images are taken as the dye passes through the uterus.

• 4

  Ask your doctor if you should have an ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if the HSG showed any abnormalities such as an enlarged uterus or tumors. These types of scans can pinpoint tumors or fibrous tissue that may be causing a uterine infection.