Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - GMC - 55

Uterine Fibroids

"According to the U.S. Office on
Women's Health, up to 80 percent
of women develop fibroids at some
point during their childbearing years,"
explains Warren. "While it's more
typical for middle-aged women to
acquire fibroids, it is not uncommon for
younger women to have them."
Put simply, fibroids are abnormal
uterine muscle tissue growth.
Thankfully, the vast majority of these
growths are not cancerous. These
fibroids can grow on the outside wall of
the uterus, in the wall of the uterus or
even on the inside of the uterine cavity.
Depending on the location of
the fibroid, you may not notice any
symptoms. But for those who do,
common symptoms include:
3 Heavy bleeding
3 Painful periods
3 Fullness or bloating in the lower
abdomen
3 Pain during sex
3 Low back pain
3 Frequent urination
3 Infertility (rarely)

Endometriosis

"Unfortunately, about 1 in every
10 women in the U.S. suffers from this
condition, for which there is still no
known cure," Warren says. Oftentimes,
it takes several years for a woman to
receive the diagnosis of endometriosis,
which means a delay in treatment.
Endometriosis is the result of the
tissue of the endometrium (the lining

UP TO

80%

OF WOMEN DEVELOP FIBROIDS
AT SOME POINT DURING THEIR
CHILDBEARING YEARS

of the uterus) growing outside of the
uterus. The tissue can attach itself
onto other organs, which causes
inflammation and pain.
Symptoms include:
3 Painful periods
3 Pain during or after sex
3 Pain with urination or bowel
movements
3 Heavy bleeding during your periods,
or bleeding between periods
3 Infertility
3 Bloating
3 Diarrhea or constipation

Ovarian Cysts

Did you know there are several types
of ovarian cysts, and that most women
have at least one type of cyst every
month when the ovaries release an
egg? "Most of the time, these cysts are
harmless and symptomless, so women
are unaware of them," Warren adds.
However, common conditions like
endometriosis and polycystic ovary

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Caring for Women
From routine well-woman checks to minimally invasive gynecological
surgical procedures, Gwinnett Medical Center has the compassionate
experts and extensive services to provide you with care at every stage of
life. To learn more, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/womens.

syndrome can cause more frequent
and severe symptoms to result. These
may include:
3 Abdominal pressure
3 Bloating, swelling or pain in the
lower abdomen. The pain might be dull
or sharp and can come and go or be
constant
3 Sharp and sudden pain if the cyst
ruptures

Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease (PID)

"Each year, more than 1 million
U.S. women will have an episode of
PID," Warren says. This condition,
unlike many others, can be cured
with a variety of treatment options.
"However, in some cases, PID may
cause permanent scarring of the
reproductive organs, leading to 1 out of
8 women who've had PID experiencing
complications such as ectopic (tubal)
pregnancies, or even infertility,"
Warren emphasizes.
Caused by a severe bodily reaction to
infection, PID produces inflammation
and, over time, scarring in the female
upper reproductive tract. Causes of
infection can include everything from
sexually transmitted infections to
pelvic procedures.
Common symptoms include:
3 Lower abdomen pain
3 Irregular periods
3 Fever
3 Abnormal vaginal discharge
3 Pain during sex
Now that you have a brief overview of
the common culprits behind pelvic pain,
there are a couple of things you need
to remember. First, don't hesitate to
speak up to your provider. Whether you
categorize your symptoms as normal
for you or not, make sure to keep your
health partner in the loop. Second,
make sure you watch for any changes.
Health changes-big or small-are
worth taking note of. ■
SUMME R 2019

55
http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/womens
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - GMC

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