What Is A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

Medical conditions are often related to other diseases and conditions. Our doctors have compiled a list of ailments related to the top...

Medical conditions are often related to other diseases and conditions. Our doctors have compiled a list of ailments related to the topic of Women's Health. These conditions may be a cause or symptom of Women's Health or be a condition for which you may be at increased risk.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection involving the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. These are the structures that urine passes through before being eliminated from the body.

• The kidneys are a pair of small organs that lie on either side of the spine at about waist level. They have several important functions in the body, including removing waste and excess water from the blood and eliminating them as urine. These functions make them important in the regulation of blood pressure. Kidneys are also very sensitive to changes in blood sugar levels and blood pressure and electrolyte balance. Both diabetes and hypertension can cause damage to these organs.
• Two ureters, narrow tubes about 10 inches long, drain urine from each kidney into the bladder.
• The bladder is a small saclike organ that collects and stores urine. When the urine reaches a certain level in the bladder, we experience the sensation that we have to void, then the muscle lining the bladder can be voluntarily contracted to expel the urine.
• The urethra is a small tube connecting the bladder with the outside of the body. A muscle called the urinary sphincter, located at the junction of the bladder and the urethra, must relax at the same time the bladder contracts to expel urine.

Any part of this system can become infected. As a rule, the farther up in the urinary tract the infection is located, the more serious it is.

• The upper urinary tract is composed of the kidneys and ureters. Infection in the upper urinary tract generally affects the kidneys (pyelonephritis), which can cause fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and other severe symptoms.
• The lower urinary tract consists of the bladder and the urethra. Infection in the lower urinary tract can affect the urethra (urethritis) or the bladder (cystitis).

Endometriosis

Endometriosis and Infertility

Endometriosis can be associated with severe pain and fertility problems. About 30% to 40% of women with endometriosis have some trouble conceiving. The reason for this is not well understood, and scarring of the reproductive tract, or hormonal factors may be involved. Over time endometrial implants may grow, or cysts may result because of endometriosis, which also may cause fertility problems.

Quick Guide Endometriosis Symptoms, Stages, Treatment

Endometriosis definition and facts

• Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of cells (endometrial cells) similar to those that form the inside of the uterus, but in a location outside of the uterus. Endometriosis is most commonly found on other organs of the pelvis.
• The exact cause of endometriosis has not been identified.
• Endometriosis is more common in women who are experiencing infertility than in fertile women, but the condition does not necessarily cause infertility.
• Most women with endometriosis have no symptoms. However, when women do experience signs and symptoms of endometriosis they may include:
• Pelvic pain that may worsen during menstruation
• Painful intercourse
• Painful bowel movements or urination
• Infertility
• Pelvic pain during menstruation or ovulation can be a symptom of endometriosis, but may also occur in normal women.
• Endometriosis can be suspected based on the woman's pattern of symptoms, and sometimes during a physical examination, but the definite diagnosis is usually confirmed by surgery, most commonly by laparoscopy.
• Treatment of endometriosis includes medication and surgery for both pain relief and treatment of infertility if pregnancy is desired.

Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian Cyst Symptoms and Signs

Cysts can arise through a variety of processes in the body, including:

• Pain during intercourse
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Unusual bleeding
• Abdominal fullness
• Breast pain
• Aching in the pelvic region

Quick Guide What's Causing Your Abdominal Pain?

Ovarian cysts definition and facts

• Ovarian cysts are closed, sac-like structures within the ovary that are filled with a liquid or semisolid substance.
• Ovarian cysts may not cause signs or symptoms. Larger cysts are more likely to cause signs and symptoms such as:
• Pain in the abdomen, pelvis, sometimes radiating to the low back, is the most common symptom
• Feeling of bloating or indigestion
• Increased abdominal girth
• Feeling an urge to have a bowel movement or having difficult, painful bowel movements
• Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Pain in the lower right or left quadrant of the abdomen on one side
• Nausea and vomiting
• There are many causes and types of ovarian cysts, for example, follicular cysts, "chocolate cysts," dermoid cysts, and cysts due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• Most ovarian cysts are not cancerous.
• Most ovarian cysts are diagnosed with ultrasound or physical examination. Transvaginal ultrasound is a common way to examine ovarian cysts.
• The treatment of an ovarian cyst depends upon the cause of the cyst and varies from observation and monitoring to surgical treatment.
• Rupture of an ovarian cyst is a complication that sometimes produces severe pain and internal bleeding. A ruptured (burst) ovarian cyst usually causes pain on one side that comes on suddenly.

What are the ovaries and how big are they?

The ovary is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women that are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of a walnut. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. They also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

What are ovarian cysts?

Ovarian cysts are closed, sac-like structures within an ovary that contain a liquid, or semisolid substance. "Cyst" is merely a general term for a fluid-filled structure, which may or may not represent a tumor or neoplasm (new growth). If it is a tumor, it may be benign or malignant. The ovary is also referred to as the female gonad.

Menopause

Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is the time in a woman's life at which she can no longer reproduce. Symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause vary greatly from woman to woman. However, common symptoms of menopause include

• Hot flashes
• Mood changes
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Tiredness
• Vaginal dryness and itching

Quick Guide Menopause & Perimenopause: Symptoms, Signs

Menopause definition and facts

• Menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. It is the time in a woman's life when the function of the ovaries ceases.
• The process of menopause does not occur overnight, but rather is a gradual process. This so-called perimenopausal transition period is a different experience for each woman.
• The average age of menopause is 51 years old, but menopause may occur as early as the 30s or as late as the 60s. There is no reliable lab test to predict when a woman will experience menopause.
• The age at which a woman starts having menstrual periods is not related to the age of menopause onset.
• Symptoms of menopause can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, hot flashes, vaginal and urinary symptoms, and mood changes.
• Complications that women may develop after menopause include osteoporosis and heart disease.
• Treatments for menopause are customized for each woman.
• Treatments are directed toward alleviating uncomfortable or distressing symptoms.

Vaginitis

• Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina.
• Symptoms of vaginitis include vaginal pain or discomfort, itching, discharge, and odor. Pain with urination or during sexual intercourse is also common.
• Vaginitis may be due to infections or non-infectious causes.
• Infectious vaginitis may be due to bacteria, fungus, or the parasitic organism known as Trichomonas.
• Infectious vaginitis should be treated with antibiotics.
• Vaginitis can also be related to physical or chemical irritation of the vagina.
• Some infectious causes of vaginitis are sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), but not all vaginal infections are sexually-transmitted.

What is vaginitis?

Vaginitis refers to inflammation of the vagina that often occurs in combination with inflammation of the vulva, a condition known as vulvovaginitis. Vaginitis is often the result of an infection with yeast, bacteria, or Trichomonas, but it may also arise due to physical or chemical irritation of the area. Not all infections that cause vaginitis are considered sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but some STDs cause vaginitis. 

Genital Herpes in Women

• Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
• Herpes simplex virus causes genital herpes by entering the skin or mucous membranes through microscopic breaks in the skin and mucous membranes.
• There are 2 types of HSV:
• Herpes simples virus-1, that typically causes cold sores, and
• Herpes simples virus-2, that typically causes genital herpes.
• Either herpes simplex virus type can cause sores on the genital areas.
• Genital herpes is transmitted by any type of sexual contact with the genital area.
• When symptoms are present, they may include
• painful blisters and/or ulcers in the genital area,
• itching, and
• burning or tingling sensations in the skin.
• With the initial (first) genital herpes infection some individuals may develop symptoms of
• fever,
• body aches and
• swollen lymph nodes

• Genital herpes symptoms come and go over the person's lifetime due to reactivations of the virus.
• Diagnosis is usually done by recognizing the skin changes in the genital area but viral cultures, genetic amplification of herpes simplex virus genome material and other tests may be done.
• There is no cure for genital herpes, but there are medications to make living with genital herpes more manageable.
• Antiviral medications are used to reduce the severity and frequency of genital herpes.
• Genital herpes symptoms usually develop about four days after exposure to an infected person.
• Some natural and home remedies may help relieve and soothe symptoms severity, but provide no cure.
• Oral antiviral medications may be used in pregnancy. Check with your OB/GYN before taking any medications if you are pregnant.
• The prognosis of genital herpes is variable: there is no cure, and the recurrent outbreaks may vary in frequency and severity.
• Genital herpes prevention is difficult. Condoms may prevent the disease spread during sex, but not in areas of skin not covered by a condom or during oral to genital contact.

Colon Cancer (Colorectal Cancer)

• Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine(colon) or rectum.
• Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in both men and women in the U.S.
• Common risk factors for colorectal cancer include increasing age, African-American race, a family history of colorectal cancer, colon polyps, and long-standing ulcerative colitis.
• Most colorectal cancers develop from polyps. Removal of colon polyps can aid in the prevention of colorectal cancer.
• Colon polyps and early cancer may have no early signs or symptoms. Therefore, regular colorectal cancer screening is important.
• Diagnosis of colorectal cancer can be made by sigmoidoscopy or by colonoscopy with biopsy confirmation of cancerous tissue.
• Treatment of colorectal cancer depends on the location, size, and extent of cancer spread, as well as the health of the patient.
• Surgery is the most common medical treatment for colorectal cancer.
• Early-stage colorectal cancers are typically treatable by surgery alone.
• Chemotherapy can extend life and improve quality of life for those who have had or are living with metastatic colorectal cancer. It can also reduce the risk of recurrence in patients found to have high-risk colon cancer findings at surgery.

Ectopic Pregnancy

• An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy located outside the inner lining of the uterus.
• The Fallopian tubes are the most common locations for an ectopic pregnancy.
• The characteristic three symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are
• abdominal pain,
• absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea), and
• Vaginal bleeding.
• However, only about 50% of women have all three of these symptoms.
• Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include previous ectopic pregnancies and conditions (surgery, infection) that disrupt the normal anatomy of the Fallopian tubes.
• The major health risk of an ectopic pregnancy is rupture, leading to internal bleeding.
• Ectopic pregnancy occurs in 1%-2% of all pregnancies.
• Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is usually established by blood hormone tests and pelvic ultrasound.
• Treatment options for ectopic pregnancy include both surgery and medication.

Chlamydia in Women

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the U.S. It is an infection with the bacteria known as Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is very similar to gonorrhea in its symptoms and pattern of transmission. It is important to note that many people (both women and men) who are infected with chlamydia do not have any symptoms and may not be aware that they have the infection. Chlamydia infection can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes in a woman and can lead to future infertility and an increase risk of ectopic pregnancy. Chlamydia infection during pregnancy also increases a woman's risk of preterm labor and of having a baby with low birth weight.

Lymphogranuloma venereum is another type of STD that is common in the developing world and is caused by a different strain of the Chlamydia bacteria.

What causes chlamydia?

Chlamydia is an infection with Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. When an infection is present, the bacteria can be present in the cervix, urethra, vagina, and rectum of an infected person. It can also live in the throat. Any type of sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or oral) with an infected person can spread the infection.

Young people who are sexually active are at high risk for chlamydia.

An infected mother can also spread the infection to her baby at the time of birth as the baby passes through the vaginal canal. The most common complications of chlamydia acquired through the birth canal are eye damage and pneumonia in the newborn.

Even after a person has been treated for chlamydia, it is possible to get the infection again. With chlamydia, repeat infection is common.

Uterine Fibroids (Benign Tumors of the Uterus)

• Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that originate in the uterus (womb).
• It is not known exactly why women develop uterine fibroids.
• Most women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms. However, fibroids can cause a number of symptoms depending on their size, location within the uterus, and how close they are to adjacent pelvic organs. These are most commonly abnormal bleeding, pain and pressure.
• Uterine fibroids are diagnosed by pelvic exam and by ultrasound.
• If treatment for uterine fibroids is required, both surgical and medical treatment options are available.

What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that originate in the uterus (womb). Although they are composed of the same smooth muscle fibers as the uterine wall (myometrium), they are much denser than normal myometrium. Uterine fibroids are usually round.

Uterine fibroids are often described based upon their location within the uterus. Subserosal fibroids are located beneath the serosa (the lining membrane on the outside of the uterus). These often appear localized on the outside surface of the uterus or may be attached to the outside surface by a pedicle. Submucosal (submucous) fibroids are located inside the uterine cavity beneath the inner lining of the uterus. Intramural fibroids are located within the muscular wall of the uterus.

Vaginal Bleeding

Vaginal bleeding facts

• Normal vaginal bleeding is the periodic blood flow from the uterus.
• Normal vaginal bleeding is also called menorrhea. The process by which menorrhea occurs is called menstruation.
• In order to determine whether bleeding is abnormal, and its cause, the doctor must answer 3 questions: Is the woman pregnant? What is the pattern of the bleeding? Is she ovulating?
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding in women who are ovulating regularly most commonly involves excessive, frequent, irregular, or decreased bleeding.
• There are many causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding that are associated with irregular ovulation.
• A woman who has irregular menstrual periods requires a physical examination with a special emphasis on the thyroid, breast, and pelvic organs.
• Treatment for irregular vaginal bleeding depends on the underlying cause. After the cause is determined, the doctor decides if treatment is actually necessary.

What is normal vaginal bleeding?

Normal vaginal bleeding is the periodic blood that flows as a discharge from the woman's uterus. Normal (menstrual) vaginal bleeding is also called menorrhea. The process by which menorrhea occurs is called menstruation.

Normal vaginal bleeding occurs as a result of cyclic hormonal changes. The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. The hormones also regulate the menstrual cycle. The ovary, or female gonad, is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women. They are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and female hormones. During each monthly menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one ovary. The egg travels from the ovary through a Fallopian tube to the uterus.

Unless pregnancy occurs, the cycle ends with the shedding of part of the inner lining of the uterus, which results in menstruation. Although it is actually the end of the physical cycle, the first day of menstrual bleeding is designated as "day 1" of the menstrual cycle in medical jargon.

The time of the cycle during which menstruation occurs is referred to as menses. The menses occurs at approximately four week intervals, representing the menstrual cycle.

Menarche is the time in a girl's life when menstruation first begins. Menopause is the time in a woman's life when the function of the ovaries ceases and menstrual periods stop. Menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months. The average age of menopause is 51 years old.

Cancer of the Uterus (Uterine Cancer or Endometrial Cancer)

• The uterus is a hollow organ in females located in the pelvis, commonly called the womb. The uterus functions to support fetal development until birth. The uterus is shaped like an upside-down pear; the top is the fundus, the middle is the corpus, and bottom is the cervix; the inner layer of the uterus is the endometrium, and the outer layer is muscle (myometrium).
• Uterine cancer is the abnormal (malignant) growth of any cells that comprise uterine tissue. The buildup of cancer cells may form a mass (malignant tumor). Non-cancer cells that form a mass are termed benign tumors.
• Although the exact causes of uterine cancers are not known, risk factors include women with endometrial overgrowth (hyperplasia), obesity, women who have never had children, menses beginning before age 12, menopause after age 55, estrogen therapy, taking tamoxifen, radiation to the pelvis, family history of uterine cancer, and Lynch syndrome (most commonly seen as a form of inherited colorectal cancer).
• Common signs and symptoms of uterine cancer are
• abnormal vaginal bleeding (most common symptom),
• vaginal discharge,
• pain with urination and/or sex, and
• pelvic pains.
• Uterine cancer is diagnosed usually with a pelvic exam, Pap test, ultrasound, and biopsy. Occasionally, CT or MRI may be done to help confirm the diagnosis.
• Uterine cancer stages (0 to IV) are determined by biopsy, chest X-ray, and/or CT or MRI scans.
• Treatment options may include one or more of the following: surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. Treatment depends on the uterine cancer stage, your age, and general health with uterine cancer stage IV as the most extensive and usually caused by the most aggressive type of cancer cells. You and your doctors can decide what treatment plan is best for you.
• Surgical therapy usually involves removal of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, adjacent lymph nodes, and part of the vagina.
• Radiation therapy may be by external radiation or by internal radiation (brachytherapy).
• Chemotherapy usually requires IV administration of drugs designed to kill cancer cells. Most chemotherapy treatments need to be done in repeated cycles of drug administration followed by a rest period.
• Hormone therapy (usually progesterone) is used on uterine cancer cells that require another hormone (estrogen) for growth.
• Second opinions can be obtained by referrals made by your doctor to others in the local medical society or to other doctors elsewhere.
• Follow-up care is important. Complications can be treated early, and possible cancer recurrence can be diagnosed early.
• Support groups are varied and many are local. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) can help locate support groups and possible clinical trials that test the newest treatments.

  

Ovarian Cancer (Cancer of the Ovaries)

Ovarian cancer facts

• Ovarian cancer is a relatively uncommon type of cancer that arises from different types of cells within the ovary.
• The most common ovarian cancers are known as epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC).
• Other types of ovarian cancer include ovarian low malignant potential tumor (OLMPT), germ cell tumors, and sex cord-stromal tumors.
• Inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes greatly increase a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer.
• A gynecologic oncologist is a specialist with expertise in the management of ovarian cancer.
• Most ovarian cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages because there are no reliable early symptoms and signs of ovarian cancer. Even in more advanced tumors, symptoms and signs are vague and nonspecific.
• There are no reliable screening tests for ovarian cancer.
• Treatment of ovarian cancer involves surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible and chemotherapy.

What is ovarian cancer?

The term "ovarian cancer" includes several different types of cancer that all arise from cells of the ovary. Most commonly, tumors arise from the epithelium, or lining cells, of the ovary. These include epithelial ovarian (from the cells on the surface of the ovary), fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal (the lining inside the abdomen that coats many abdominal structures) cancer. These are all considered to be one disease process. There is also an entity called ovarian low malignant potential tumor; these tumores have some of the microscopic features of a cancer, but tend not to spread like typical cancers.

There are also less common forms of ovarian cancer that come from within the ovary itself, including germ cell tumors and sex cord-stromal tumors. All of these diseases as well as their treatment will be discussed.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC)

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) accounts for a majority of all ovarian cancers. It is generally thought of as one of three types of cancer that include ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer. All three tumors behave, and are treated the same way, depending on the type of cell that causes the cancer. The four most common cell types of epithelial ovarian cancer are serous, mucinous, clear cell, and endometrioid. These cancers arise due to DNA changes in cells that lead to the development of cancer. The serous cell type is the most common variety. It is now thought that many of these cancers actually come from the lining in the fallopian tube, and fewer of them from the cells on the surface of the ovary, or the peritoneum. However, it is often hard to identify the sources of these cancers when they are found at advanced stages, which is very common.