Gynaecological Disorders

<p>The most common symptoms of <br>gynecologic disorders <br>include vaginal itching, a vaginal discharge, abnormal bleeding from the vagina, pain in the pelvic area, and breast pain and lumps. The significance of gynecologic symptoms often depends on the age of the woman because symptoms may be related to the hormonal changes that occur with aging.<br>Pelvic Pain</p><p>Many women experience pelvic pain - pain that occurs in the lowest part of the abdomen, between the hipbones. The pain may be sharp, intermittent, or crampy (like menstrual cramps). It may be sudden and excruciating, or it may be dull, constant, or both. The pain may gradually increase in intensity, sometimes occurring in waves.</p><p>Causes: Pelvic pain may be caused by disorders related to any of the organs in the pelvis: the reproductive organs (<br>uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and vagina<br>), bladder, rectum, or appendix. However, pelvic pain sometimes originates in organs outside the pelvis, such as the abdominal wall, intestine, kidneys, ureters, or lower part of the aorta. <br>Psychologic <br>factors, especially stress and depression, may contribute to any kind of pain (including pelvic pain) but by them rarely cause pelvic pain.</p><p>Evaluation and Treatment: When a woman has sudden, very severe pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, doctors must quickly decide whether the cause requires emergency surgery. Examples of emergencies are appendicitis, a perforated ulcer, a bulge in the aorta (aortic aneurysm), a twisted ovarian cyst, a ruptured abscess (collection of pus) in the pelvis, or a pregnancy that develops outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy), usually in a fallopian tube.</p><p>What Causes Pelvic Pain?</p><p>Disorders related to the reproductive organs</p><p>Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea)</p><p>Pregnancy that develops outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)</p><p>Miscarriage</p><p>Endometriosis</p><p>Fibroids in the uterus</p><p>Mittelschmerz (pain that occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle and is caused by ovulation)</p><p>A ruptured, or twisted cyst in an ovary</p><p>Pelvic inflammatory disease</p><p>Tumors (cancerous or noncancerous) in gynecologic organs</p><p>Disorders not related to the reproductive organs</p><p>Appendicitis</p><p>Urinary tract infections, such as cystitis</p><p>Diverticulitis</p><p>Gastroenteritis</p><p>Peptic ulcer disease</p><p>Inflammatory bowel disease</p><p>Irritable bowel syndrome</p><p>Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the abdomen (mesenteric lymphadenitis)</p><p>Stones in the urinary tract, such as kidney stones</p><p>Pain in the abdominal wall (the muscles and connective tissue that surround the abdominal cavity)</p><p>Tumors (cancerous or noncancerous) of the digestive tract</p><p>Vaginal bleeding</p><p>Any vaginal bleeding that occurs <br>before puberty, during pregnancy, or after menopause<br> is considered abnormal. During the reproductive years, vaginal bleeding is usually from menstrual periods, although various disorders may cause bleeding or abnormal menstrual periods.. Menstrual periods may be abnormal if they:</p><p>Become excessively heavy (saturating more than 1 or 2 tampons an hour)</p><p>Last too long (more than 7 days)</p><p>Occur too frequently (usually fewer than 21 days apart)</p><p>Occur too infrequently (usually more than 90 days apart)</p><p>At any age, prolonged or excessive bleeding can result <br>in iron deficiency and anemia.</p><p>Causes: Bleeding from the vagina may result from a disorder in the vagina or another reproductive organ, particularly the uterus. For example, thyroid disorders can cause menstrual periods to be irregular, to be heavy and occur more frequently, or to occur less frequently (as well as to stop). Some causes are more common among certain age groups. Bleeding in children, which is unusual, is most often due to a vaginal foreign object or an injury. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is more likely to occur in adolescents (when menstrual periods are just starting) or in women in their late 40s</p><p>Common Causes of Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding</p><p>Age Group</p><p>Common Causes</p><p>Infants</p><p>Exposure to estrogen from the mother before birth (causing minimal bleeding during the first 1 to 2 weeks of life)</p><p>Children</p><p>Injury (including sexual abuse)</p><p>Infection (including that due to sexual abuse)</p><p>Insertion of a foreign object (such as toilet paper or a toy) in the vagina</p><p>Bulging (prolapse) of the urethra outside the body</p><p>Puberty that occurs too early (precocious puberty) with premature menstrual periods</p><p>Women of reproductive age</p><p>Complications of pregnancy or labor:</p><p>Miscarriage (actual or threatened)</p><p>Pregnancy located outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)</p><p>Placental abnormalities, such as premature separation (abruptio placentae) or a location too near the cervix (placenta previa)</p><p>Incomplete delivery of the placenta</p><p>Hormonal dysfunction:</p><p>Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (the most common cause)</p><p>Brain dysfunction that affects regulation of reproductive system</p><p>Thyroid disorders</p><p>Tumors of the adrenal gland or ovaries</p><p>Disorders of the reproductive organs:</p><p>Cancer</p><p>Noncancerous growths (such as polyps, fibroids, cysts, and benign uterine or ovarian tumors)</p><p>Endometriosis</p><p>Injuries</p><p>Infections (such as chlamydial infections and genital warts)</p><p>Pelvic inflammatory disease</p><p>Factors related to birth control methods:</p><p>Missed or skipped doses of oral contraceptives</p><p>Irregular bleeding during the first few months of taking oral contraceptives</p><p>Use of an intrauterine device (IUD)</p><p>Postmenopausal women</p><p>Cancer in a reproductive organ</p><p>Noncancerous growths (such as polyps and tumors) in a reproductive organ</p><p>Age-related thinning of the vagina</p><p>Trauma during intercourse</p><p>Thickening of the lining of the uterus (endometrial hyperplasia)</p><p>Blood tests to evaluate thyroid function or to check for bleeding disorders may be done. Doctors often perform ultrasonography, which may be performed transabdominally, or transvaginally, using an ultrasound device inserted into the vagina to look for cancerous and noncancerous growths of the reproductive organs. Other procedures to identify cancer may include a Papanicolaou (Pap) test, a biopsy of the cervix, and dilation and curettage (D and C).</p><p>Vaginal Discharge</p><p>A small amount of vaginal discharge is usually normal. The discharge consists of secretions (mucus) produced by the cervix and of fluid that seeps through the walls of the vagina. Estrogen stimulates this production. The discharge is usually milky white or thin and clear.. <br>Typically, the discharge has no odor. It is not accompanied by itching, burning, irritation, or rash.</p><p>Newborn girls normally have a vaginal discharge of mucus, often mixed with a small amount of blood. This discharge occurs because estrogen is absorbed from the mother through the placenta before birth. After birth, the level of estrogen decreases rapidly, causing a small amount of bleeding in the first 1 to 2 weeks of life. Normally, older infants and girls do not have any significant vaginal discharge until puberty, when estrogen levels increase.</p><p>A vaginal discharge is considered abnormal if it is</p><p>Heavier than usual</p><p>Thicker than usual</p><p>Puslike</p><p>White and clumpy (like cottage cheese)</p><p>Grayish, greenish, yellowish, or blood-tinged</p><p>Foul- or fishy-smelling</p><p>Accompanied by itching, burning, a rash, or soreness</p><p>Causes: A discharge may indicate inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis), which may be due to an infection or to irritation by a chemical (as for vaginal itching</p><p>A white, gray, or yellowish cloudy discharge with a fishy odor is caused by bacterial <br>vaginosis.<br> A thick, white, and clumpy discharge (which looks like cottage cheese), often accompanied by itching, is typically caused by <br>candidiasis<br>, a yeast infection. A heavy, greenish yellow, frothy discharge that may have a bad odor is typically caused by <br>trichomoniasis<br>, a protozoan infection. A greenish or yellowish discharge may be due to cervical infection with gonorrhea or chlamydia. <br>Gonorrhea, chlamydial infections, and trichomoniasis are sexually transmitted.</p><p>A watery, blood-tinged discharge may be caused by cancer of the vagina, cervix, or lining of the uterus (endometrium).<br> Radiation therapy to the pelvis may also cause an abnormal discharge.</p><p>Vaginal Itching</p><p>Vaginal itching may involve the area containing the external genital organs (vulva) as well as the vagina.. Itching is considered a problem only when it is persistent, is severe, recurs, or is accompanied by a discharge that looks or smells abnormal.</p><p>Causes: Vaginal itching may result from the following:</p><p>Infections:</p><p>Irritation: <br>Chemicals that come in contact with the vagina or vulva may irritate them. Examples are the chemicals in laundry detergents, bleaches, fabric softeners, synthetic fibers, bubble baths, soaps, feminine hygiene sprays, perfumes, menstrual pads, fabric dyes, toilet tissue, vaginal creams, douches, condoms, and contraceptive foams.</p><p>Changes in the skin or lining of the vagina: <br>Some things are to be kept in mind.... -- Homeopathy never fails. If one does not get relief, it is the homeopath that is at fault.</p><p>Go to another one. -- Homeopathy is equally effective in curing acute diseases (as chronic diseases). Chronic diseases take time to cure. The cure of acute diseases is quick.</p>