10 Most Common Gynecological Problems Woman Must Know

Gynaecology problems are conditions when a woman’s reproductive system is affected, including the breasts and organs in the pelvic and abdominal regions (womb, vagina, ovaries, etc.). Below is a list of some common gynaecological problems:

1. Menstrual cycle-related issues, e.g., menopause, menorrhagia, scanty bleeding, etc. 
2. Uterus-related conditions, e.g., Endometriosis, fibroids, etc.
3. Pelvic floor conditions, e.g., Uterine prolapse, urinary incontinence, etc. 
4. Cancers of any of the parts, e.g., ovaries, breast, cervix, etc. 
5. Vagina-related conditions, e.g., Vaginitis, vaginal discharge, bleeding, painful intercourse, etc. 
6. Pregnancy-related concerns, e.g., abortion, miscarriage, postpartum depression, gestational diabetes, etc.
7. Fertility issues
8. Vaginal infections, e.g., vaginal yeast infection, vaginitis, etc.
9. Sexual dysfunction and disorder, e.g., arousal disorder, desire disorder, pain disorder, etc.
10. Hormone disease, e.g., polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hirsutism, etc.

Some of the most common gynaecology problems are as follows:

Menstrual cycle-related issues 

1. Menopause: It is a part of a woman’s life where she goes 12 consecutive months without menstruating. The transition to menopause mostly begins during the 40s. She may start to notice changes in her menstrual cycle and have symptoms like hot flashes.
2. Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding): It is a common condition among women who menstruate. She may experience heavy bleeding for more than seven days while menstruating. 

Uterus-related conditions

1. Endometriosis: It is a condition in which there is the presence of tissue resembling the uterus lining called endometrium outside the uterus. This condition causes chronic inflammation due to scar tissue formation in the pelvis and other body parts. 
2. Fibroids: There is a growth of noncancerous tumours inside or outside the uterus. She may experience back pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain during sex, and frequent urination.

Pelvic floor conditions

1. Uterine prolapse: This condition occurs when the tissue and muscles of the pelvis weaken. This causes the uterus to drop down into the vagina.
2. Urinary incontinence: In this condition, a woman experiences uncontrollable leakage of urine due to loss of bladder control which may occur after childbirth or menopause.

Cancer

1. Cervical cancer: The cancer cells grow in the cervix. In its early stage, a woman usually won’t have any symptoms and may develop after several years.
2. Endometrial cancer: This condition occurs when the endometrium cells start to grow out of control. These cells become cancerous and spread to other body parts.
3. Ovarian cancer: The abnormal cells in the ovaries or fallopian tubes start to grow and multiply uncontrollably. 

Vagina-related conditions. 

1. Vaginitis: Infection or inflammation of the vagina is called vaginitis and can be caused by an organism (bacteria, yeast) or due to irritation from sprays or chemicals. 
2. Vaginal discharge: It is a white or off-white fluid that comes out of the vagina. Vaginal discharges are normal, but changes in their colour, smell, consistency, and amount can indicate some problems. 

Pregnancy-related concerns

1. Termination of pregnancy: Also called abortion is a process to end an unwanted pregnancy. 
2. Miscarriage: It is an unexpected end of pregnancy, mostly in the first 20 weeks of gestation. 
3. Infertility issues: It is a condition where a woman is unable to conceive even after trying for a pregnancy for over a year. Infertility can be caused due to uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and thyroid disease.

Vaginal Infections

1. Vaginal yeast infection: This condition causes the skin around the vagina to itch and burn and may change the consistency of vaginal discharge. It is caused due to an overgrowth of the fungus candida. 

Sexual dysfunction. 

1. Arousal disorder: Inability to become excited or physically aroused during sexual intercourse.
2. Pain disorder: A woman may experience pain during sexual activity. 

Hormone disease. 

1. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): It is a common condition that affects hormones. This condition causes ovarian cysts, irregular periods, weight gain, and fertility issues.  
2. Hirsutism: This condition causes the growth of excessive hair in areas where women usually do not have hair, such as the chin, upper lip, etc.

Risk factors for gynaecology problems vary with the condition. Risk factors for menstrual disorders involve:

1. Weight
2. Smoking
3. History of too many pregnancies. 
4. Exercise
5. Stress
6. Longer and heavier menstrual cycles. 

Risk factor for gynaecological cancers involves:

1. Family history of cancer
2. Age 
3. Certain gene mutation
4. Reproductive history
5. History of bowel or breast cancer
6. Exposure to hormones 
7. Lifestyle factors (overweight and smoking)
8. Viral infection (human papillomavirus)
9. Women who do not breastfeed have more chances of getting breast cancer. 

Risk factors for hormone imbalance are:

1. Age
2. Obesity
3. Genetics
4. Medication (steroids)
5. Lifestyle factors
6. Tumour
7. Previous ovarian surgery. 

Risk factors for vagina-related issues are:

1. Multiple or new sexual partners
2. Smoking
3. Vaginal douching
4. Being pregnant
5. Using birth control pills, antibiotics, or certain steroids
6. Unmanaged diabetes
7. Having a health condition that weakens the immune system.
8. Not changing out of sweaty clothes.
9. Using vaginal deodorant 
10. Wearing scented tampons. 

You may think that you may need to use certain products or treatments to prevent gynaecology problems, but let me tell you things you can follow to keep your reproductive organs healthy:

1. Follow a healthy lifestyle. Eat right, exercise, and manage your weight.
2. Have regular check-ups with your gynaecologist, i.e., once a year or more, if you have an existing condition.
3. Use clean water to wash your genital area.
4. Use a condom to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
5. Do not ignore postmenopausal bleeding.
6. Don’t prepare yourself before consulting your gynaecologist. Don’t primp and pamper your genitalia before meeting your doctor. Just taking a shower is enough. 
7. Incontinence and prolapse are not usually dangerous. Do pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) to strengthen your pelvic muscles.

Consult a gynaecologist if you experience the following gynaecology problems:

1. Abnormal vaginal bleeding
2. Bleeding between periods
3. Urgent or frequent need to urinate 
4. Burning sensation while urinating
5. Pain or pressure in your pelvis (different from menstrual cramps)
6. Increased vaginal discharge
7. Lumps or soreness in the genital area
8. Vaginal discharge with unusual or unpleasant odour or unusual colour
9. Swelling, burning, itching, soreness, or redness in the vaginal area
10. Bleeding after menopause.
11. Breast-related symptoms such as a change in breast size, lump/mass in the breast, redness in the nipple or skin, etc. 

Don’t try to treat the gynaecology problem yourself. Consult your gynaecologist if you experience unusual symptoms like abnormal vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge with unusual colour and odour, etc. They will guide you properly and provide you with the right treatment. 

Also, you can contact our personal care team at HexaHealth for any doubts. The personal care team at HexaHealth will solve all your queries, like the ‘best gynaecologist near you’ or any other related questions. If you are curious about what is causing irregular periods, weight gain, or other gynaecological problems, Hexahealth is here to help you.