Gynecology is the medicine that is dedicated to the health of females in the reproductive system that include the problems in the uterus, breast, periods, vagina, fallopian tubes and ovaries. It combines the field of obstetrics that focus on pregnancy and childbirth. You should not ignore these like some women who think it’s normal and temporary. In this blog, we will get to know about the common gynecological symptoms and some of women’s health symptoms too like missed periods, frequency in urine, itching in the vaginal area, pain during sex and problems in breast, and many more. These problems and symptoms can be signs of something serious.
Common Gynecological Symptoms Every Woman Should Know
There are so many common gynecological symptoms that are common but not to be ignored. So let’s start:
Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
Abnormal vaginal bleeding is one of the common gynecological symptoms that can occur during menstruation, after sex and after menopause. It includes heavy periods, intermenstrual bleeding, lower abdominal pain and postmenstrual bleeding. Also, menstruation occurs after every 21 days and lasts for 3 to 7 days. But if it stays longer than 15 days, then it is required to improve the medical condition. Because it may cause cancer, hormonal imbalance, fibroids or polyps, especially after the menopause.
Your doctor can do tests of blood, hormone level and thyroid to identify that you are suffering from a sexually transmitted disease or any other disease. There are also some tests like pelvic ultrasound, pelvic MRI, ultrasound of the uterus and transvaginal ultrasound.
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Heavy menstrual bleeding is if some women experience heavy bleeding and it lasts for several days. It is also called Menorrhagia. Some women have menstrual bleeding between the periods and it can be earlier or later too, according to your menstrual period.
Bleeding Between Periods (Unexpected Bleeding)
After puberty and before menopause, most of the females experience bleeding between the periods. It is also called intermenstrual bleeding. Puberty means when a young girl’s body starts to change in a developing hormone, emotional and physical and it becomes an adult body which is ready for reproduction.
Postmenopausal Bleeding
Postmenopausal bleeding is the vaginal bleeding which happens after menopause. Menopause is when a woman didn’t get menstruation in 1 year. After menopause, if women are bleeding then it isn’t common, it can cause cancer of the uterus.
Unusual Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal discharge is natural and common. It is clear and white or off white fluid. It is made of bacteria and cells to help from infection, clean the vagina and help to stay healthy. But unusual vaginal discharge is not common. It has a bad smell, changes of color and consistency and also it causes a lot of pain in the abdomen, pain during intercourse and difficulty in urine. It is a sign of infection in your vagina or in the cervix.
Changes in Color, Odor, Texture or Amount
- Amount: Everyone makes their own amount of discharge and it also depends on the situations like birth control pills, ovulation and pregnancy that how much amount of discharge you have. However, unusual and sudden changes can cause the problem or infection too.
- Texture: Normal vaginal discharge can be watery, thick, sticky and pasty which is normal but if it is chunky & foamy then it’s unusual and maybe it can cause infection too.
- Odor: Normal vaginal discharge may have mild odor which is normal but if it smells fishy or foul in discharge and the color and texture is also changed then maybe your vagina is infected.
- Color: Normal vaginal discharge can be clear, milky white and off white in color but if it is green, grey, dark yellow, reddish and brown in color then it may cause problems, disease and infection too. Now lets see what these color actually mean:
- If your discharge is clear or white then it means you have a normal discharge but if white discharge is chunky and causes itching then it may cause problems.
- If it’s brown and red then it can relate to your period or pregnancy if you are intimate during that time but if not then it’s not your period and it can cause problems.
- If it’s grey, yellow or green in color then it’s not normal and you are suffering from bacterial infection or Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).
So the STI means Sexually Transmitted Infection. It is an infection that you get from any kind of sexual activities like oral sex, anus, penis and vagina. The most common gynecological symptoms of this is burning, itching and discharge in genetic areas and if you are sexually active then you can have STI without knowing.
Symptoms of Infections (e.g., Bacterial vaginosis, Yeast infection)
There are a lot of symptoms of infections in which bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection is common.
- Bacterial vaginosis: Every healthy vagina has bacteria which is good and bad. If the growth of bad bacteria has increased and if it overcomes the good bacteria then it can create problems. At first, they balance each other but because of the growth of bad bacteria it can cause infection in your vagina. It may cause the fishy smell in vaginal discharge. It is a common problem to have at the age of 15 to 40 in fact, approx 40% of the women face bacterial vaginosis. It happens to those who are sexually active and those who never had sex. You have a risk of getting bacterial vaginosis, such as during pregnancy, not using condoms, having multiple sex partners, or take any antibiotic.
- Yeast infection: It happens when fungus which we call candida have grown too much. Candida always stays in your body without creating any problem but when it is unbalanced it becomes multiple and it leads to the yeast infection. It can cause reddish, burning and itching in the vulva area and it is not a sexually transmitted infection. 3 out of 4 women face this infection. In fact, most of the woman faces this problem once in their lives after puberty and before menopause. It is not related to any sexual activity. You have a risk of getting yeast infection if you take any antibiotics, unmanaged diabetes, weak immune system, experience changes of hormones and being pregnant.
Vaginal Dryness and Discomfort
Vaginal dryness is when the normal moisture is not available in your vagina and the tissues in your vagina become dry and thin. It becomes uncomfortable in sex and it causes pain while sitting, peeing and exercising. It is common in the female after her menopause, before her menopause or at the age of 40 to 50.
Painful Intercourse
Painful intercourse is also one of the common gynecological symptoms known as Dyspareunia. It is a common condition that 3 out of 4 women have but anyone can experience painful sex even men too. Women feel extreme pain in her vulva or at the vagina. Some feel internal pain like skin of the vagina, uterus and in the lower abdomen. Men feel pain in the head of the pelvis, on the shaft, in pelvis and in the textile too before, after and during the sex. It can have a negative impact emotionally, physically and psychologically. But physical pain is much more and because of that couples are not able to be intimate.
Physical Causes
In painful intercourse, physical causes differ that it depend on the pain that happens in entry or while deep thrusting. Lets see about these pain:
- At entry: If the use of lubrication is not enough or not applied in proper quantity then it can cause physical pain during sex. It can cause changes in estrogen levels after the menopause, childbirth or during breastfeeding. Some medicine can affect sexual desires and it can decrease the lubrication that can make sex painful. The medicines like high blood pressure medicines, antidepressants, some birth control pills and many more. If injury or irritation comes from certain accidents, pelvic surgery or cuts during childbirth to make it large the birth canal. Then, it can cause a lot of pain during the sex which we call episiotomy. If infection or skin disorders like eczema happen in the genital areas, vagina or urinary area it can cause a lot of pain in the intercourse that will be unbearable.
- Deep Pain: Deep pain during penetration can worsen such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, or ovarian cysts. Disorders like cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, or hemorrhoids can also cause pain in both men and women. If you have these conditions, consult a healthcare professional before engaging in sexual activity. Sometimes surgeries and medical treatment can cause physical pain during sex like pelvic surgeries that include hysterectomy. Which can cause pain, creating changes and makes sex painful.
Emotional Factor
Emotions are deeply connected with sexual activities and desires. But if it is not in right position or you are suffering from imbalance of emotions then it can create problems. The problems you face such as anxiety, depression, insecure about your appearance or body, fear about intimacy. Also, some problems in relationship can make you emotionally distract and make sex painful. If you have stress about something then it can tighten your pelvic muscles and it can cause pain during sex. If you ever have been abused in sex and you have trauma of this then it can play a critical role in your life and in sex too. You can feel a lot of pain and it is not a good sigh.
If you are suffering from any of these problems then you should talk with your partner and make things easy for both of you. Sometimes women feel fear at the start of sex and if she is not able to relax and feel comfortable then she feels more pain while having sex.
Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Most of the women get their periods for 4 to 7 days and it happens after every 21 to 28 days. Many things happen that lead to irregular menstruation like having stress, medication, changes in hormones and some health issues. If you face irregular periods like occurring before 21 days or after 31 days or missing from straight 2-3 times. Also, in heavier bleeding or lighten than usual and last long for 7 days, pain, vomiting, nausea or cramping. If you are changing your sanitary pads or tampons every hour or two.
Skipped or Missed Periods
If periods are delayed or missed then it can be the sign of that you are pregnant but if it is not like that then there are so many things because of that you are not getting periods like:
- Age: There are two types of irregular periods that happen according to your age. If you are getting your periods for the first time then it can be irregular for 6 to 12 months because your menstruation cycle is not prepared. But once it is settled then you get regular periods as long as you are not getting pregnant. But if you are at the age of 40 and 50 then your body is near the menopause and it causes irregular periods or missed periods.
- Stress: If you have stress then it can affect your body to have irregular periods. It can change the way you sleep and the way you eat. High stress has a direct impact on the menstrual cycle at the age of 20 and 40. A stressed body makes a type of hormone that affects the part of the brain that helps for regular periods.
- PCOS: If the level of hormones has increased because of the hormonal imbalance, there is strong chances of lean PCOS symptoms as well as PCOS. Then your ovulation will stop and your periods can skip too. You can figure it out if your acne has increased in your face, chest or back; your skin has darkened; the growth of the hair has increased in your face or chin and you have gained weight and it is hard to lose it.
Breast Changes
Women have changes in her breast in certain stages of their life like at first in her puberty stage then when she grows and before giving birth then after giving birth or when she is bearing a child. It also happened during her menstrual cycle and near her menopause.
Lumps Areas
Breast lumps are a growth that develop in the breast and they can be a sign of breast cancer. If you feel lumps in the breast or under the arm you can check your doctor and they can suggest you for a test or treatment for you.
Nipple Discharge
Nipple discharge is when your nipple leaks the fluid from both the breasts. It is common in women in late pregnancy and after childbirth. Sometimes it is normal and harmless even if you are not pregnant but sometimes it can create serious problems.
Breast Dimpling or Changes
Breast dimpling happens when the skin is pulled out or puckered out from the breast. If it pulled out like this then the texture can look like an orange peel if you ever notice. The changes of breast tissue cause dimpling and it looks like a stretch mark that also appears under your armpits.
Warning Signs of Breast Cancer
The symptoms and warning signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women and men. It is different for every one.
- If we look at the women then the changes of the look and feel of the breast and nipple are different than usual and the nipples discharge by themselves. Sometimes it is not cancer but just a pain. To identify what it is, the only way is to get a check up.
- If we look at the men then the most common sign is painless lump and thickness in the chest, breast and underarm; changes in the size and shape; itchy, soreness, rashes, redness and puckering of the skin of the breast and the nipple.
Unexplained Bloating or Abdominal Swelling
- Bloating happens in the stomach because of gas and it feels pressure, tightness and fullness in your belly. It also feels uncomfortable and painful. Sometimes you don’t feel much pain but for some people it can create problems. Digestive issues and hormones can affect the bloating. This bloating is common among the older women or for those who had children.
- Abdominal swelling occurs when your stomach becomes larger than usual. It is uncomfortable or painful too.
Associated Symptoms to Monitor
- The common gynecological symptoms of bloating are that your abdominal becomes discomfort and tightness, swelling is visible, excessive gas, burping and feel heaviness after eating.
- The symptoms of abdominal swelling are that it becomes large after eating due to gas, the feeling of tightness and fullness even if you didn’t eat much and the feeling of tiredness, cramping, discomfort and pain in the abdomen area, etc.
Urine
Urine is a yellowish liquid waste which the kidney creates from the blood. After the kidney makes urine it goes through the urinary system. First, it moves from the kidney to the bladder by the ureters then the bladder holds the urine and then the bladder squeezes it and it flows from the urethra and then from the body.
Painful Urination
Urination is the process of releasing the urine from your body. If you feel pain, burn or discomfort while urinating, it is also called dysuria. It is not about the frequency or amount you go to urine but the pain is matter. It is not a diagnosis but the signs and symptoms that maybe you are suffering from any disease.
Frequent Urge to Urinate
Frequent urination is when you need to pee more than your usual. It is inconvenient and makes it difficult for you to manage your daily life. It is also common but if your age is more than 70 and if you are pregnant then you frequently pee.
Possible Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
The Urinary Tract Infections is an infection of the urinary system. It involves the kidney, bladder and urethra. Women have higher chances to get UTI than men. It can affect the bladder and it can be painful and annoying but if it spreads to the kidney then the situation can be serious.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention and a Gynecologist?
Vaginal bleeding is common in menstruation before menopause. Menopause means when your periods stop and it happens after the age of 40 and mid of 50s. But if there is something different then you should go to the doctor for a check up. Because it can lead to problems like kidney damage and cancer of the reproductive tract.
If you are suffering from these common gynecological symptoms of bleeding between the periods, abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding after menopause, frequent need of urine, burning sensation between the urine, pain in your pelvis. If you experience severe menstrual cramps or unusual vaginal discharge with a foul smell, or urine color changes during pregnancy, seek medical advice. Also, itching, burning, soreness, redness, lumps, or swelling in the vaginal area are not normal symptoms. Consult a doctor promptly to prevent complications and ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusion
I hope you clearly understand that gynecology depends on the health of the female reproductive system. And there are many women health symptoms, common gynecological symptoms like abnormal vaginal bleeding, unusual vaginal discharge, painful intercourse, irregular periods and many more. They explain how these things affect women’s health and make their situation critical and serious. If things get worse they can suffer from cancer too. So make sure to analyze your problem and treat it. Never ignore the problems of missed period, lumps in your breast and painful and frequent urine, as they can create serious problem.