Uterine Fibroids
Description: Non-cancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years.
Symptoms: Heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination.
Causes: Hormonal changes (estrogen and progesterone), genetic alterations.
Risk Factors: Obesity, early onset of menstruation, family history.
Diagnosis: Pelvic ultrasound, MRI, hysteroscopy.
Treatment: Laparoscopic myomectomy, hysterectomy, medical management (GnRH agonists).
Ovarian Cyst (Dermoid/Endometrioma)
Description: Fluid-filled sacs or pockets on an ovary, requiring close monitoring or surgical excision.
Symptoms: Pelvic pain, bloating, painful bowel movements, irregular periods.
Causes: Hormonal imbalances, endometriosis, pregnancy, pelvic infections.
Risk Factors: Hormonal problems, pregnancy, past ovarian cysts.
Diagnosis: Transvaginal ultrasound, pelvic MRI, CA-125 blood test.
Treatment: Laparoscopic cystectomy, oral contraceptives.
Endometriosis
Description: A painful disorder in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
Symptoms: Painful periods (dysmenorrhea), pain with intercourse, chronic pelvic pain, infertility.
Causes: Retrograde menstruation, embryonic cell transformation.
Risk Factors: Never giving birth, family history, early menarche.
Diagnosis: Pelvic laparoscopy (gold standard), transvaginal ultrasound.
Treatment: Laparoscopic excision, hormone therapy, pain relievers.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Description: A hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age, causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts.
Symptoms: Irregular periods, excess facial/body hair (hirsutism), severe acne, weight gain.
Causes: Excess insulin, low-grade inflammation, genetics.
Risk Factors: Family history, obesity.
Diagnosis: Hormone tests (testosterone, LH/FSH ratio), pelvic ultrasound.
Treatment: Oral contraceptives, metformin, spironolactone, lifestyle modifications.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Description: A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, representing an emergency.
Symptoms: Abnormal vaginal bleeding, sharp pelvic pain, shoulder pain, lightheadedness.
Causes: Damage to fallopian tubes from infection, hormonal factors.
Risk Factors: Previous ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, smoking, IVF.
Diagnosis: Transvaginal ultrasound, serial beta-hCG blood tests.
Treatment: Laparoscopic salpingectomy or salpingostomy, methotrexate injection.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Description: Infection of the female reproductive organs, usually caused by sexually transmitted bacteria.
Symptoms: Lower abdominal pain, unusual vaginal discharge with odor, painful urination, fever.
Causes: Sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea) spreading upwards.
Risk Factors: Multiple sexual partners, douching, past PID.
Diagnosis: Pelvic exam, vaginal swab cultures, ultrasound.
Treatment: Broad-spectrum oral or IV antibiotics.
Primary Infertility
Description: The inability of a couple to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse.
Symptoms: Inability to achieve pregnancy.
Causes: Ovulatory dysfunction, tubal blockage, endometriosis, male factors.
Risk Factors: Advanced maternal age, smoking, obesity, stress.
Diagnosis: Hysterosalpingography (HSG), semen analysis, ovulation tracking.
Treatment: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), fertility drugs.
Adenomyosis
Description: A condition in which endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus.
Symptoms: Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, severe cramping, enlarged uterus.
Causes: Invasive tissue growth, developmental origins, uterine inflammation.
Risk Factors: Prior uterine surgery (C-section), childbirth, middle age.
Diagnosis: Pelvic ultrasound, pelvic MRI.
Treatment: Hormone therapy, uterine artery embolization, hysterectomy.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Description: High blood sugar that develops during pregnancy in women who did not previously have diabetes.
Symptoms: Often asymptomatic, increased thirst, frequent urination.
Causes: Placental hormones blocking the action of maternal insulin.
Risk Factors: Obesity, age over 25, family history of type 2 diabetes.
Diagnosis: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks.
Treatment: Dietary changes, regular glucose monitoring, insulin (if required).
Preeclampsia
Description: A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system.
Symptoms: High blood pressure, proteinuria, severe headaches, vision changes, swelling of face/hands.
Causes: Abnormal development of placental blood vessels.
Risk Factors: First pregnancy, chronic hypertension, obesity, multiple gestations.
Diagnosis: Blood pressure monitoring, urine protein test, blood tests (platelets, liver enzymes).
Treatment: Anti-hypertensive medications, magnesium sulfate (seizure prevention), delivery.
Placenta Previa
Description: A condition where the placenta lies unusually low in the uterus, next to or covering the cervix.
Symptoms: Sudden, painless vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy.
Causes: Abnormal placental implantation.
Risk Factors: Prior C-section, smoking, multiple gestations, advanced maternal age.
Diagnosis: Transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound.
Treatment: Bed rest, avoiding intercourse, planned C-section delivery.
Vaginal Candidiasis (Yeast Infection)
Description: A fungal infection of the vagina and tissues at the opening, causing irritation and discharge.
Symptoms: Severe itching, burning during urination, thick white odor-free discharge.
Causes: Overgrowth of Candida albicans fungus.
Risk Factors: Antibiotic use, pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, weakened immune system.
Diagnosis: Clinical exam, microscopic analysis of vaginal discharge.
Treatment: Antifungal vaginal creams/pessaries or oral fluconazole.
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN)
Description: Abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix, representing precancerous changes.
Symptoms: Usually asymptomatic.
Causes: Persistent infection with high-risk strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Risk Factors: Multiple sexual partners, smoking, weakened immune system.
Diagnosis: Pap smear test, HPV DNA testing, colposcopy and biopsy.
Treatment: Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP), cold knife conization.
Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB)
Description: Abnormal bleeding from the uterus that has no organic cause.
Symptoms: Heavy bleeding, irregular intervals, spotting between periods.
Causes: Hormonal imbalances, failure of ovulation.
Risk Factors: Adolescence, perimenopause, obesity, stress.
Diagnosis: Hormone tests, ultrasound, endometrial biopsy.
Treatment: Hormonal pills, tranexamic acid, endometrial ablation, hysterectomy.
Uterovaginal Prolapse
Description: Herniation of the uterus and vaginal walls down into or outside the vaginal opening.
Symptoms: Sensation of sitting on a ball, pelvic heaviness, difficulty passing bowel, urinary leakage.
Causes: Weakening of pelvic floor muscles and ligaments.
Risk Factors: Vaginal childbirths, aging, chronic coughing, obesity.
Diagnosis: Pelvic examination.
Treatment: Pelvic reconstructive surgery (sacrospinous fixation), vaginal pessary insertion.
