How many girls collapsed in front of the hospital after seeing the “pelvic fluid” on the B-rays? And how many girls who have no symptoms at all but have been taking medication for six months because of pelvic fluid are still there in the end? However, there are also people who do not take pelvic fluid seriously at all. The reason why there are two different attitudes is mainly because of the inaccurate understanding of pelvic fluid. How does pelvic effusion arise? Does it need to be treated?
What is pelvic effusion?
Pelvic inflammatory disease, adnexitis or endometriosis can all cause pelvic effusion, which can be divided into “physiological pelvic effusion” and “pathological pelvic effusion” according to pathological factors.
Pathological pelvic effusion is more dangerous. Once abnormal pelvic effusion is found, you should go to the hospital promptly.
Do physiological ones need treatment?
Physiological pelvic fluid is a normal pelvic fluid that does not require treatment. The pelvic and abdominal cavities of the human body are not a dry piece of “land”. The peritoneum, omentum and intestinal canal secrete some fluids, which usually play the role of lubricating and protecting the pelvic and abdominal organs and tissues.
When standing, the pelvic cavity is relatively low in the body, and this secreted fluid will accumulate in the pelvic cavity. A small amount of pelvic fluid is also easily found in women after ovulation or during menstruation and the days immediately following menstruation because of follicular fluid discharge or a small amount of menstrual blood flowing backwards into the pelvis.
Pelvic fluid can be observed by ultrasound. If the depth of the fluid is less than 3 cm and there are no other uncomfortable symptoms, it usually does not need to be treated.
What about if it is slightly more than 3 cm? It is necessary to take into account the patient’s menstrual period, ovulation period, and the presence of abdominal pain and distension to determine if the fluid is pathological. As mentioned above, fluid may increase slightly during ovulation, menstruation or just after menstruation, but if there is no other abnormality, there is no need to make a fuss even if the fluid is slightly more than 3 cm.
What are the signs of pathology?
Pathological pelvic effusion is accompanied by obvious clinical symptoms, mainly including
1. lower abdominal cramping, pain on one or both sides of the lower abdomen
Chronic inflammation may cause adhesions and pelvic congestion in the body organs and body cavity walls, resulting in lower abdominal cramping, pain and lumbosacral soreness. This feeling is often aggravated after exertion, sexual intercourse and before and after menstruation.
2.Decrease in resistance
The systemic symptoms caused by pelvic effusion are mostly not obvious, and sometimes there may be low fever and weakness. For those who have been ill for a longer period of time, some of them may have mental discomfort, peripheral discomfort and insomnia. When the patient’s resistance is poor, pelvic effusion is prone to acute attacks.
3. Menstrual disorders
In patients with concurrent pelvic stasis, menstruation may increase; when ovarian function is damaged, menstruation may be disordered.
4. Infertility
Infertility is the most common symptom of pelvic effusion. If pelvic inflammatory disease leads to blockage of the fallopian tubes, infertility will occur.
How is pathological caused?
1.Pelvic inflammatory disease
(1) Lack of hygiene during menstruation
The menstrual flow is suitable for the breeding of bacteria. If you do not pay attention to personal hygiene, use unclean sanitary pads, toilet paper, etc., or have sex during menstruation, it gives a good opportunity for bacteria to easily cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which usually produces some inflammatory fluid.
(2) Inflammation spread from neighboring organs
When suffering from appendicitis or inflammation of peritoneum, it is easy to complicate pelvic inflammatory disease. When suffering from vaginitis or cervicitis, the inflammation may spread upward and eventually lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and the formation of effusion.
(3) Postpartum and post-abortion infections
After childbirth and abortion, immunity is relatively low and the cervical opening is dilated at this time. If personal hygiene is not taken care of, bacteria in the vagina and cervix may also travel up and cause pelvic infections.
(4) Infection after gynecological surgery
If you undergo abortion surgery, IUD removal surgery or tubal imaging, etc., it is easy to get infected after the surgery if the sterilization process is not strict. If you do not pay attention to personal hygiene after surgery, do not follow medical advice for recovery treatment, or have sex too early after treatment, it may lead to pelvic infection.
2.Ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy carries the risk of bleeding after the embryo has reached a certain stage of development due to the specificity of the embryo growth site. More commonly, at around 6 weeks, the fallopian tube will be too narrow and the embryo will burst, causing heavy bleeding. Usually, emergency bleeding is very dangerous, often reaching 1000-3000 ml in a short period of time, which can lead to life-threatening conditions such as shock.
3. Rupture of ovarian cysts
Here, it mainly refers to ovarian corpus luteum bleeding and ovarian cyst rupture. It is like a balloon full of water in the pelvic cavity and due to special circumstances the balloon ruptures and the water inside flows into the pelvic cavity.
4.Cancerous ascites
Only cancerous ascites caused by ovarian tumors is discussed here. 70% of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed when they go to the hospital because of ascites.
What is the treatment for pathological cases?
Treatment for pathological pelvic effusion usually includes
1.Physical therapy
Warm and benign stimulation can promote local blood circulation in pelvis. It improves the nutritional status of tissues and increases metabolism to facilitate the absorption and remission of inflammation.
2.Medication
Anti-inflammatory drugs or hormonal drugs are used for symptomatic treatment.
3.Surgical treatment
This requires a surgical plan based on individual circumstances, which will not be discussed here.
Don’t panic if you have pelvic effusion
Through the above answers to some common questions about pelvic effusion, I believe women will be able to deal with it wisely and calmly in the future. It is important to know that sometimes it may be a physiological pelvic fluid that needs no special treatment; sometimes it is a pathological pelvic fluid that needs to be diagnosed according to its causes and clinical manifestations, and actively cooperate with the doctor for treatment.