Acute gynecological conditions

Women’s reproductive system is very important organ system that changes throughout of their lives. From puberty to menopause, this organ system undergoes numerous modifications and it is often vulnerable and affected with various diseases and injuries. Gynecology is a medical practice that deals with the health of women’s reproductive system, recognizes and cures health problems in uterus, vagina and ovaries. Most common gynecological disorders include vulvodynia, vaginitis, pelvic floor disorders and pelvic pain. Let us take a closer look at each of these symptoms and conditions.

Vulvodynia

This is a condition characterized by chronic pain in the female genital organs. Sometimes, this pain is caused by skin diseases or vaginal infections, but very often it is completely unexplained. Vulvodynia is typically characterized by burning sensation, irritation or sharp pain in the vulva or at the entrance of the vagina. Some women may complain about constant pain, while others feel pain only when the surface of the vagina is touched. Sometimes, this condition can be very unpleasant and obstruct normal activities such as sexual intercourse, sitting, riding, and similar. It generally lasts for at least 3 months and there is no know definite cause. Possible causes are predisposition to inflammation, autoimmune disorder, infections, and neuropathy affecting the nerve endings in angina, injury or even sexual trauma.

Vaginitis

Vaginitis is an inflammation of vagina that usually manifests as an unpleasant irritation, often accompanied by discharge, pain and itching sensation. In most of the cases, vaginitis is a result of bacterial vaginosis, vaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. Sometimes, vaginitis is completely asymptomatic but it usually includes irritation and itching, redness and swelling of the vaginal surface, foul smelling vaginal discharge and pain or irritation during the sexual intercourse.

Pelvic floor disorders

This is a group of conditions that affect the pelvic floor, connective tissue which span the area underneath the pelvis. Disorders of the pelvic floor include abnormal tension in the pelvic reason and may cause various problems such as frequent urination or pain. In most cases, pelvic floor disorders result from trauma, as a reaction to stress, or from some kind of natural predisposition.

Pelvic pain

Pelvic pain is not a disorder but symptom that accounts for 10 percent of all visits to gynecologists. If it persists for more than 3 months, it is considered chronic. The acute pain is very common and it often occurs in postoperative period or as a result of any kind of trauma to the soft tissue. In many cases, pelvic pain results from exaggerated bladder, bowel, or uterine pain sensitivity. However, it may also occur as a symptom of other gynecologic conditions. Therefore, it is important to consult a health care practitioner if any kind of pain in the pelvic region is present for more than 3 months.