Endometritis is inflammation localised to the endometrium, the inner uterine lining, commonly due to an infectious cause.

Symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Lower abdominal pain
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge

Endometritis can present as acute or chronic.1 The acute form is usually from an infection that passes through the cervix as a result of an abortion, during menstruation, following childbirth, or as a result of douching or placement of an intrauterine device (IUD).

Risk factors for endometritis following delivery include Caesarean section and prolonged rupture of membranes. Chronic endometritis is more common after menopause or if an infectious microbe is present in cases of chlamydia or gonorrhoea.

Endometritis can also be caused by pathogenic bacteria ascending up from the vaginal canal. Hence, maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome is important to reduce one’s risk of endometritis. A healthcare professional can diagnosis endometritis via some diagnostic tests including a vaginal microbe test, laparoscopy of the uterus, uterus biopsy and blood tests.

The lining of the uterus may appear thicker or irregular on ultrasound, but this alone doesn’t results in a diagnosis of endometritis. Many conditions can cause an abnormal appearance of the uterine lining.

If left untreated, endometritis can cause infertility, pelvic infection, pelvic or uterine abscesses and septicaemia. Antibiotics are prescribed in the case of endometritis, and we recommend taking a probiotic with lactobacillus to replenish protective bacteria in the vaginal canal. 

Reference

1. Cleveland Clinic. Endometritis. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24334-endometritis. Accessed Mar 12, 2025.