clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

The main complaint is of a purulent discharge which may be blood stained. Other possible presenting features are those of fever, lower abdominal pain and uterine tenderness on pelvic examination.

Occasionally, the discharge accumulates in the uterus to form a pyometra which on examination, will be enlarged, soft and tender.

Pyometra are most likely:

  • if the cervical canal is obstructed, for example, by malignancy or as a consequence of radiotherapy

  • after the menopause when there is atrophy of the vaginal epithelium and the endometrium - atrophic endometritis