In this paper we present a way of computing a lower bound for the genus of any smooth representative of a homology class of positive self-intersection in a smooth four-manifold $X$ with second positive Betti number $b_2^+(X)=1$. We study the solutions of the \swe\ on the cylindrical end manifold which is the complement of the surface representing the class. The result can be formulated as a form of generalized adjunction inequality. The bounds obtained depend only on the rational homology type of the manifold, and include the Thom conjecture as a special case. We generalize this approach to derive lower bounds on the number of intersection points of $n$ algebraically disjoint surfaces of positive self-intersection in manifolds with $b_2^+(X)=n$.