Have You Heard of These Common Gynecological Conditions?

As women, we may have concerns about our gynecological health.  Gynecological conditions are the conditions related to the female reproductive system.  Sometimes these conditions can affect fertility and prevent pregnancy, can lead to cervical cancer, and could make menstrual periods or sexual activity uncomfortable, painful, and difficult to deal with.  Keep reading to learn more about some of the most common gynecological conditions, and what you can do about them.

Endometriosis

Do you suffer from unbearably painful periods?  We’re not talking about normal period pain that a lot of women have experienced, this is excruciating pain.  It has been compared to the pain of childbirth, and it’s debilitating.  Do you have a lot of pain during intercourse or bowel movements?  You might have endometriosis.

Endometriosis occurs when tissue like the tissue found in your uterus is found growing outside of your uterus.  The tissue is usually found within the pelvic region.  It has no way to clear the body and gets stuck.  Cysts may form when the ovaries are involved, and you may develop scars and adhesions.

Endometriosis can cause infertility, and in fact, some women are diagnosed while exploring infertility.  It can block the fallopian tube, or even damage the egg or sperm.

If you have any of these signs or symptoms, talk to your medical doctor to see if you should be tested for endometriosis

Dysmenorrhea

There is another condition that can also cause frequent and severe pain and menstrual cramps that isn’t endometriosis.  This condition is called Dysmenorrhea.  There are two types of dysmenorrhea- primary and secondary.  Primary occurs from the first time you start menstruating, and secondary is usually due to a physical cause like another medical condition and usually starts later in life.

Other symptoms may include low back pain, nausea, vomiting, and pain radiating down the legs.  These symptoms can overlap with many other conditions, so it’s important to discuss your symptoms with your medical doctor.

Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are another condition that some women might experience.  These are non-cancerous growths that can grow on the uterus.  These growths usually appear during your childbearing years.

Fibroids can range from very small to large enough they can expand the uterus.  You could have one or you could have many.  For many women, there are no symptoms, and for those that do, it changes depending on the location of the fibroid.  Some symptoms may include heavy periods that may last more than a week, pain in the pelvic area, back, or legs, issues when urinating, or constipation.

If you think you might have uterine fibroids, talk to your doctor to see what they recommend.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Also known as PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormone disorder in which the ovaries produce too much of the male hormone (androgen), and in some cases develop tiny fluid-filled sacs (cysts).

Some common symptoms of PCOS may include irregular, missed, or light periods, ovarian cysts, excess body hair, weight gain, acne, and infertility.  There is no clear cause of PCOS, and the treatment changes based on whether or not a woman plans to get pregnant.  Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned you may have PCOS to discuss any testing or treatment options.

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