What Is Oophoritis?

Oophoritis refers to the inflammation of one or both of a woman's ovaries. The most common cause of oophoritis is a bacterial infection and it usually occurs in women between the ages of 15 and 35.

Normally, oophoritis develops together with salpingitis or inflammation of the fallopian tubes. The combination of inflammation of these two structures of the female reproductive system is called salpingoophoritis. Oophoritis is, therefore, a type of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Depending on the severity of the oophoritis, the symptoms that may appear in the patient are:

• Lower abdominal pain.
• Vaginal bleeding.
• Fever.
• Pain during intercourse.
• Pain when urinating.

When a woman is diagnosed with mild oophoritis, the specialist usually prescribes antibiotics. However, in more severe cases of ovarian inflammation, surgery is necessary.