About Female Health Problems
Due to their unique reproductive system, women have specific health conditions that can greatly influence the quality of their life if not recognized and treated in early stages.
That is why it is imperative that women see a doctor for a complete physical as required, depending on her age and family history.
Women are at risk for breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer and irregularities in the reproductive system. Exams can screen for any illness in these areas.
Normally, women between the ages of 20 and 50 should get a checkup once a year. Most female illnesses and serious health conditions can be prevented with proper follow-up care.
Effects
Endometriosis is one of the most common medical condition that affects women during their child-bearing years. It is believed that from 10 to 15 percent of women aged 15 to 45 suffer from this illness.
Your uterus is lined with a special form of tissue called endometrium. It is especially adapted to contain a fertilized egg.
Every month your body produces hormones that thicken this tissue in preparation for the egg. If the egg is fertilized through pregnancy, it attaches to the endometrium and begins to grow.
If you are not pregnant, the endometrium separates and is discarded from the body as blood. This is called menstruation.
With endometriosis, the tissue that is formed outside your uterus performs the same way as the lining inside. When you menstruate, the tissue gets thicker, comes apart and bleeds. However, there is no place for the blood to leave your body.
This causes irritation and so much pain that it is difficult to function. The tissue can also scar or form cysts, or sacs that are filled with fluid. This can make it more difficult to get pregnant and is the reason for about 30 percent of infertility problems.
Drugs are prescribed to help with the pain, although they do not cure the problem. Surgery is frequently suggested to remove the scar tissue.
Function
About half of all women suffer each month from menstrual cramps, or dysmenorrhea, and nearly all women have it occasionally. This cramping ranges from a mild discomfort to severe pain in the lower stomach, back and thighs.
Sometimes, women also become nauseous or dizzy and have headaches, fainting spells diarrhea or constipation. The cramping is caused when the uterus contracts, because your body makes a hormone called prostaglandin. You may be more sensitive to this hormone or your body may make amounts that are higher than normal.
Other reasons for dysmenorrhea include the cysts from endometriosis, which we explained above; pelvic infections from menstrual bleeding or sexually transmitted diseases (STD); and the use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control.
A number of different treatments are used to help relieve cramping, such as herbal supplements, aspirin, anti-inflammatory or pain medicines, and oral contraceptives.
See a doctor if you have monthly pain that keeps you from your normal activities. It is important to determine the reason for the pain and what can be done to relieve the problems. Then you can resume your regular day-to-day schedule.
Features
Do you have tenderness or pain in your breasts every month? Mastalgia or fibrocystic breasts are very common for women until they go through menopause. In fact, about 50 percent of all women in the U.S. see their doctors about painful breasts. They are concerned about the swelling and lumps that may appear right before or during their period, or what is called cyclical mastalgia.
The changes in the breast are caused by the hormones that are produced during this time of the month. The lumps are not normally associated with breast cancer, but it is important that you talk with your doctor about your symptoms and any concerns that you have. In some cases, if there is a questionable cyst, the physician may recommend a mammogram and/or ultrasound. with a possible biopsy.
Normally, you can get relief with over-the-counter pain medications, some that are specifically formulated for menstrual problems.
Other suggested treatment include taking contraceptives, increasing magnesium intake and reducing the fat in your diet by about 15 percent. Consult with your doctor about what is best.
Exercise, of course, is always helpful. Women also find that wearing a sports bra makes them feel better.
Benefits
A woman should get a pap test or Pap smear once a year to make sure that there are no changes in the cells of her cervix. This is the lower part of the uterus opening into the vagina. The results of the Pap test show if there are any infections, unhealthy cells, or, at worst, cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is caused by abnormal cells growing out of control. The earlier the problem is caught, the better chance of successful treatment. This is why annual tests are advised. The Pap exam can catch the first signs of cervical cancer or infections that can turn into cancer cells.
All women need Pap tests along with their annual pelvic exams if they are 21 years of age or older or less than 21 and sexually active for over three years. If you are under the age of 30, get a Pap test every year.
If you are above 30 and have had three normal Pap tests in a row, ask your doctor about having one every two or three years. If you are over 70 with three or more normal tests in the last decade, ask if you can stop having these tests.
Prevention/Solution
Women are more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), because the bacteria, fungus or parasites proliferate in warm parts of the body, such as the mouth and vagina. Sexually active adolescents and young adults are the largest population who have STDs. It is believed that 200 to 400 million individuals are affected around the world, 70 million in the United States alone.
A female usually is infected with STDs by having vaginal, oral, or anal contact with someone who already has the disease. Condoms only help with some of the STDs.
There are over 25 different STDs that affect both men and women. However, you can get STDs in other ways than through sexual acts, such as coming in contact with infected blood through sharing of needles.
Some STDs are completely treated by medication, some are treated and then come back. Untreated STDs can have major consequences, including infertility, cervical cancer and ectopic pregnancy.
See a doctor if you have symptoms such as pain or unusual vaginal discharge. Not all STDs are noticeable. That is one reason why sexually active women need to have regular medical exams.
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