Conditions
Pelvic Abscess
Quick answer
A pelvic abscess is a pocket of pus deep in the lower belly, often near the womb, tubes or ovaries. It usually needs strong antibiotics given through a vein, and many also need the pus drained with a needle or by surgery. Quick treatment protects fertility and stops the infection from spreading into the blood.
Medically reviewed by The Curaventa Team · Last updated 2026-10-27
An abscess forms when the body walls off an infection and pus collects inside. In the pelvis, this often starts from pelvic inflammatory disease (an infection that travels up from the vagina into the womb and tubes). It can also follow childbirth, a miscarriage, surgery, or a burst appendix or bowel pouch.
A common type is the tubo-ovarian abscess, where pus gathers around a fallopian tube and ovary. Small abscesses may settle with antibiotics alone. Larger ones, or those that do not shrink, are drained under ultrasound or CT guidance, or during keyhole surgery. A ruptured abscess is a surgical emergency.
Symptoms
- Deep, constant pain low in the belly or on one side
- Fever, chills and sweating
- Unusual or bad-smelling vaginal discharge
- Pain during sex or on internal examination
- Painful or frequent passing of urine or stools
- Nausea, poor appetite and tiredness
Causes and risk factors
- Untreated or repeated pelvic inflammatory disease
- Sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea
- Recent delivery, caesarean section or miscarriage
- Pelvic or bowel surgery, including hysterectomy
- Burst appendix or inflamed bowel pouches (diverticulitis)
- An intrauterine device fitted around the time of an infection
- Weak immunity, for example from diabetes
How it is diagnosed
- Pelvic examination by a gynaecologist
- Transvaginal ultrasound (a scan using a thin probe in the vagina)
- CT or MRI of the pelvis to map the abscess size and position
- Blood tests for infection markers and white cell count
- Swabs and pus culture to find the germ and the right antibiotic
When a procedure is needed
Drainage is advised when the abscess is large, when fever and pain do not improve after a few days of antibiotics, or when the patient is very unwell. Image-guided needle drainage is often tried first. Keyhole or open surgery is needed if the abscess has burst, cannot be reached by a needle, or keeps coming back.
Frequently asked questions
Can a pelvic abscess affect my chance of pregnancy?
It can. Infection and scarring may block the fallopian tubes. Early antibiotics and drainage lower this risk. If you plan a pregnancy later, a fertility specialist can check whether your tubes are open.
How long will I stay in hospital in India?
Most patients stay several days for antibiotics through a vein. If drainage or surgery is needed, the stay is longer. Plan to remain in India for one to two weeks so the team can confirm the abscess is shrinking on a repeat scan.
Does my partner need treatment too?
If the cause is a sexually transmitted infection, yes. Your partner should be tested and treated. Otherwise the infection can pass back to you and the abscess can return.
What should I bring for my consultation?
Bring previous scans, blood reports, culture results and a list of antibiotics you have taken. Also bring notes from any recent delivery, miscarriage or surgery. This helps the team choose the right treatment quickly.
What follow-up will I need after going home?
You will usually finish a course of antibiotic tablets at home. A repeat ultrasound a few weeks later checks that the abscess has gone. Your local doctor should see you sooner if fever or pain returns.
Medically reviewed by The Curaventa Team. Last updated 2026-10-27. General information, not medical advice. Medical editorial board · Editorial policy · How we get prices
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