Early diagnosis and treatment of gynecological diseases saves lives. However, the symptoms of serious diseases, which become very difficult to treat when delayed, can be ignored by women, thinking that it is ‘stress’ or ‘there is no serious problem’. However, symptoms such as menstrual irregularity, breakthrough bleeding and frequent urination that are ignored can be signs of serious diseases.
It is very important for women to consult their physicians if they have any complaints. Because, thanks to early diagnosis and treatment, many diseases can be treated before they cause more serious health problems. The most important thing is that women should not neglect regular gynecological examinations every year starting from the age of 21, even if they have no complaints.
For example, thanks to the smear test, cellular changes can be treated before they turn into cervical cancer. In addition, women who have regular check-ups can gain significant advantages against ovarian cancer, which usually progresses without symptoms.
7 important symptoms to pay attention to in gynecological diseases:
Gynecologists and Obstetricians explained 7 signals that women should definitely consult a physician about possible gynecological diseases; they made important warnings:
1- Menstrual irregularity and breakthrough bleeding
Menstrual irregularity is one of the important symptoms that should never be ignored. It is most commonly caused by excessive stress or exercise, rapid weight gain and loss, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid or prolactin hormone problems.[1]
He also pointed out that a gynecological evaluation should be made in case of excessive and intense long-term menstrual bleeding and said, “Heavy menstrual bleeding can be an important symptom of endometrial polyps, myoma, uterine wall thickening, cervical and endometrial cancer.
2- Groin pain, abdominal swelling
Groin pain; It can indicate infections, fibroids, ovarian cysts and endometriosis. If pain is accompanied by vaginal discharge, it is important to evaluate for pelvic infection. If fever, severe abdominal and lower back pain occur despite antibiotic treatment; Further examination may be required for infection and abscess of the uterus, ovaries and tubes.
Experts point out that groin pain regarding gynecological diseases in women may also be caused by endometriosis: Endometriosis is the tissue lining the uterus outside the uterus, and endometrioma (chocolate cyst) is the endometriosis in the ovaries.[2]
Experts emphasize that if groin pain is accompanied by menstrual delay, the underlying factor may be an ectopic pregnancy. “If the symptoms of abdominal pain and abdominal swelling are accompanied by weight loss, the patient is examined for ovarian cancer. Since ovarian cancer usually shows symptoms at an advanced stage, annual gynecological examinations, early diagnosis and “It is of great importance in treatment,” they say.
3- Genital warts
Raised and usually skin-colored lesions in the genital area can be called ‘genital warts’. These warts, which have different appearances, colors and varying prevalence, are most commonly caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).[3]
Experts warned that warts usually do not cause any complaints and may rarely cause itching:
HPV types 6 and 11, which are responsible for 90 percent of warts, are in the low risk group for cervical cancer. However, cervical cancer screening tests must be performed because other subgroups may also accompany it.
4- Bleeding after sexual intercourse
Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse; It can be seen due to vaginal infections, cervical polyps and, most importantly, cervical cancer lesions. Experts pointed out that the most common cause of cervical cancer is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is generally transmitted sexually, and shared the following information:[4]
This virus can also manifest itself with vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse, but it may not cause any complaints in the early stages of the disease. For this reason, Smear – HPV tests performed during gynecological examination are of great importance. Precancerous lesions can be detected with screening tests (Smear -HPV tests). The development of cervical cancer can be prevented with early diagnosis and correct treatment.
5- Vaginal discharge
Physiological vaginal discharge is odorless, transparent and colorless. Some beneficial microorganisms are dominant in the vaginal flora. Disruption of flora balance for various reasons can lead to changes in vaginal discharge. If the vaginal discharge is yellow or green in color and foul-smelling and is accompanied by complaints of groin or lower back pain and itching, the cause may be an infection. In the presence of sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, uroplasma or microplasma, antibiotic treatment is planned for the partners[5].
6- Bleeding during menopause
If vaginal bleeding occurs one year after the last menstrual period, a physician should be consulted. Because these bleedings; Vaginal atrophy due to vaginal dryness can be a sign of bleeding, endometrial hyperplasia (thickening of the inner lining of the uterus), polyps originating from the cervix or endometrium, myomas, and even cervical and endometrial cancers[6]. For this reason, bleeding that occurs during menopause must be taken seriously. In these bleeding cases, in addition to gynecological examination, cervical cancer screening tests and ultrasonography methods are used. If the uterine lining is found to be thick, endometrial biopsy options should be evaluated and pathology examination should be performed.
7- Frequent urination
Frequent urination problem in women can be caused by various health conditions. The most common causes include urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence and some chronic conditions. Urinary tract infections are characterized by bacteria entering the urinary tract and causing infection[7]. This condition can manifest itself with symptoms such as frequent urination, burning sensation and pain during urination. Urinary incontinence is the condition of partial or complete loss of control of the bladder and occurs with symptoms such as frequent urination, urinary incontinence and sudden need to urinate.
References:
- What Is Breakthrough Bleeding and Why Does It Happen? Healthline-Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Ashley Marcin — Updated on September 18, 2018
- Groin pain or swelling, Healthdirect-Last reviewed: May 2022
- Genital warts, MayoClinic, Dec. 19, 2023
- Bleeding After Sex, Medically Reviewed by Nivin Todd, MD on November 07, 2022 Written by Anne Machalinski
- Sim M, Logan S, Goh LH. Vaginal discharge: evaluation and management in primary care. Singapore Med J. 2020 Jun;61(6):297-301. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2020088. PMID: 32754764; PMCID: PMC7905126.
- Sung S, Abramovitz A. Postmenopausal Bleeding. [Updated 2022 Sep 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.
- Zhang Y, Wang XD, Song Y, Peng R, Tang T, Li M, Yu Z, Ji Y, Niu J. Epidemiology of Frequent/Urgent Urination in Older Adults in China: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study. Front Public Health. 2021 Sep 7;9:669070. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.669070. PMID: 34557463; PMCID: PMC8452895.