Gynecological problems are never a woman’s best friend. But what steps can you take to possibly avoid a potentially embarrassing trip to your physician? As much as we tell ourselves that our physicians deal with these types of issues everyday, it still isn’t always easy to confront your burning and itching questions with someone who is still, technically, a stranger. Find out the three most frequent gynecological issues that women are confronted with, how to possibly treat them, and what steps you might be able to take to avoid them.
The most common gynecological issue most women deal with are known as Urinary Tract Infections, or UTI’s. Caused by bacteria in the urinary tract system (which includes kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra), this type of infection can be very painful. Often, bacteria near the rectum or surrounding the vagina may spread and enter the urethra, which leads to the infection. Menopause, a weakened immune system (due to viruses or illnesses), sexual intercourse, or the use of diaphragms have also been known to be leading causes of UTI’s. Urinary tract infections of the bladder seem to be the most frequent type, although nearly half of all women suffer from one sort of UTI at least once during the course of their lives.
UTI’s can be determined by a strong urge to urinate, needing to urinate but being unable to, bloody, cloudy, or foul smelling urine, or most often, burning sensations while urinating. These types of infections should always be treated by a physician with the use of antibiotics. Your physician will obtain and test a urine sample to correctly diagnose the problem (this classifies which types of bacteria are present). Most generally, he or she will prescribe an antibiotic that will clear up your symptoms within days. They also stress that you increase your fluid intake (nearly double what is recommended for women who are not afflicted with a UTI), especially the intake of cranberry juice. This is done to help speed the flushing of the bacterial infection from your system.
If you have reoccurring urinary tract infections, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic that will need to be taken for the course of a few months. These are commonly prescribed in low tolerant doses that will ward off any unwanted bacteria in the vaginal area, thus keeping it from entering the urethra. Sometimes, your physician may also prescribe an antibiotic that is to be taken immediately after sexual intercourse if that is what is deemed to trigger your UTI’s. Urinary tract infections should always be taken seriously, and need to be treated as early as possible. If an infection has gone untreated, it can spread to the kidneys, causing kidney infections that could require hospitalization if they are serious enough. Kidney infections can be spotted by pain in the lower back, nausea, and vomiting.
You can increase your chances of avoiding UTI’s by wiping front to back after urinating, always using the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to urinate, urinate right after sexual intercourse, drink plenty of water or cranberry juice, and avoid feminine products such as sprays and douches.
Yeast infections affect 3 out of 4 women, with most having more than one during the course of their lifetime. In rare cases, it has been found to be transmitted to men through sexual intercourse. Yeast infections are caused by a naturally occurring bacteria found in the vagina, called candida albicans. Every woman has a natural acidic balance that thrives in the vagina and keeps yeast from growing, and when the acid levels are altered, yeast infections occur. Moisture is the key factor in the cause of yeast infections.
Signs to watch for that determine if you have a yeast infection include a red, swollen vulva that itches or burns, abnormal discharge that is foul smelling, thick, and white, painful urination, or pain during sexual intercourse. Although seeking medical treatment isn’t always necessary (over the counter creams can be used that may rid the infection and ease the burning and itching, such as Monistat), it is still wise to see your physician. He or she might prescribe an oral antibiotic, especially if recurrent yeast infections happen to be an issue for you.
Preventing yeast infections isn’t always possible, but you can up your chances of avoiding them by wiping from front to back after urination, drying off well after a shower, avoiding baths or hot tubs, refraining from douching or using scented soaps in the shower, always wearing loose fitting clothing that are not nylon, and wearing cotton undergarments.
Cervical cancer, the third most common reproductive cancer among women, inflicts nearly 12,000 women a year. In 1996, the FDA approved a Cervical Cancer Vaccine that can be administered to females from the ages of 9 to 26, called Gardasil. Cervical cancer is caused by normal cells in the cervical tissue becoming cancerous, and spreading to the cervix itself. The most common cause of cervical cancer is HPV, or human papillomavirus, which is a sexually transmitted infection. Not all cases of cervical cancer stem from HPV though, and not all HPV infected women will contract cervical cancer. HIV is also known to be a cause for cervical cancer because the female’s immune system has been weakened by the virus, and their immune system is unable to fight the infection.
It is very difficult to determine if cervical cancer is present at its early stages. When it starts to progress, you may notice abnormal vaginal bleeding after sex, or between menstrual cycles, increased menstrual bleeding, pain during intercourse, or a watery vaginal discharge that is bloody and foul smelling.
During its early stages, cervical cancer can be treated by surgery. Types of surgery most frequently used include laser surgery, conization, cryosurgery, hysterectomy, and loop electrosurgical excision procedure. For cancer that has progressed to its later stages, a hysterectomy may become critical to removing the cancer. Other surgeries for the invasive stage include radical trachelectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy. Normally, as long as the cancer is contained to the cervix, a woman’s survival rate is near that of a healthy female.
You can help to avoid cervical cancer by delaying the age that you begin having intercourse, not smoking, limiting the number of sexual partners that you have, getting vaccinated against HPV, using protection during sexual intercourse, eating a healthy diet and exercise, and having a yearly PAP smear done by your gynecologist.
As women, we sometimes find it hard to make time to pay attention to our body’s needs until we notice that something is wrong. Often, it may be too late to reverse the damage that has been caused by some of the above infections. Being attuned to what your body is demanding, when it demands it, can help you to avoid serious health problems in the future. Remember to make an annual appointment with your gynecologist for a complete work-up to keep your body healthy. You may find it difficult to face your physician with your worries or concerns, but the few moments of embarrassment that you may feel upon voicing these matters may save you a lifetime of regret.
