Uterine Cancer
Uterine fibroid is a condition characterized by growths of the uterus, which are non-cancerous and typically develop during the childbearing stages of a woman’s life. The growths vary in size, with some being tiny, making them detectable by the human eye. Others are large enough to the extent of distorting and enlarging the uterus. Fibroids are classified according to their location. Growths within the muscular uterine wall are known as intramural fibroids, while those bulging into the uterine space are called sub-mucosal fibroids. The last class of fibroids is those that grow out of the uterus and are known as subserosal fibroids.
Risk Factors
In addition to being a woman, there are risk factors such as age. Black women are at higher risk of getting fibroids compared to women from other races. This is because the manifestation of fibroids in women starts at a lower age, when the fibroids are more in number and size, and the symptoms are more severe. In addition, the onset of menstruation at early stages in life, hereditary factors, deficiency of vitamin D, low green vegetable nutrition and high red meat diet intake, and taking alcoholic beverages increase the chances of getting uterine fibroids.
Symptoms
Fibroids in many women display no symptoms. However, the symptoms are influenced by the fibroids’ location, number, and size; some symptoms include pelvic pain, constipation, back and leg pain, and frequent urination. Patients also have heavy menstrual bleeding, which may last more than a week.
Causes
Clinical experience indicates that fibroids arise from genetic changes. Fibroids are likely to occur if genes change and differ from those in the normal uterus. Hormones such as progesterone and estrogen promote the growth of fibroids. Research has indicated the amount of progesterone and estrogen receptors compared to normal uterine cells. Additionally, fibroids shrink with the inception of menopause due to a decline in estrogen and progesterone. Extracellular matrix increases in fibroids making the cells more fibrous. Additionally, the extracellular matrix stores growth factors making biological changes in the uterine wall cells.
Control and Management
Little evidence is available on how to prevent fibroids. Only a small percentage of the growths require treatment. Decreasing the risk of fibroids requires incorporating diets with fruits and vegetables and maintaining an average weight. Contraceptives such as Oriahnn, GnRH agonists, and oral Tranexamic acid are linked with low risks of getting uterine fibroids.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disorder characterized by pain where the endometrium grows outside the uterus. The condition covers the fallopian tube, ovaries, and pelvic lining tissue. Endometriosis is characterized by the endometrial-like tissue acting in the same way as the endometrial tissue. The endometrial shadowing tissues thicken, break down, and bleed whenever a patient experiences a menstrual cycle. Endometriosis forms whenever endometriosis affects the ovaries. Upon irritation, tissues around the ovaries may develop scar tissues and adhesions. The adhesions are abnormal bands of fiber-like tissues that trigger pelvic tissues and organs to stick together. The condition has four stages based on the endometrial tissue’s location, depth, size, and amount. The stages are minimal, mild, moderate, and severe.
Symptoms
Pelvic pain is the most noticeable symptom of endometriosis, especially during menstrual pain. Pain may come before the menstrual cycle and extend for more days after the cycle, accompanied by back and abdominal pains. The pain usually is during and after sex for patients with endometriosis. Additional symptoms include pain when urinating or bowels are moved and infertility.
Causes
Retrograde menstruation is one of the causes of endometriosis, where blood containing endometrial cells fails to flow out of the pelvic cavity and flows back through the pelvic cavity. The cells cling to the walls of the pelvis, develop, stiffen, and bleed at every menstrual phase. Peritoneal cell transformation may also trigger endometriosis. Disorders of the immune system may also trigger endometriosis since the body cannot detect and destroy the endometrial cells. Transportation of endometrial cells and embryonic cell transformation may also trigger endometriosis. Transformation of embryonic cells may result from estrogen during the early stages of cell development.
Risk Factors and Compilations
Development of endometriosis may arise from a patient never giving birth, short menstrual cycles, and starting menstrual cycles at an early life stage. Other factors include menstrual cycles lasting more than seven days, low body mass index, and abnormalities in the reproductive tract. In addition, any clinical conditions that may hinder the movement of menses out of the body and high estrogen levels in the body may trigger endometriosis.
Complications that result from endometriosis include infertility. Endometriosis obstructs the fallopian tube, which inhibits fusion between the sperm and egg cells. Additionally, the condition may destroy the sperm, making fusion and implanting the egg and sperm impossible. Ovarian cancer is higher in endometriosis patients compared to any other kind of patient.
Treatment
Pain management is one of the many ways to handle endometriosis. Common drugs used are non-steroidal inflammatory drugs. Treatment with hormonal therapy, such as oral contraceptives, is used for managing the condition by lowering the amount of estrogen in the body. Surgical procedures such as laparoscopy might remove affected tissue and increase the chances of a patient becoming fertile.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Women develop a hormonal health disorder during their life’s reproductive stage known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Patients suffering from PCOS have excess amounts of androgen hormone, and their periods occur longer than expected. Numerous tiny fluid collections can develop on the ovaries, making them fail to release ova. Currently, the causes of PCOS are not apparent. Once an individual experiences a change in their periods, they should consult a doctor for early detection and control.
Symptoms
Development of symptoms occurs firsts at puberty when the first menstrual period appears. Additionally, the condition may arise later in life due to weight gain. Irregular and prolonged periods are signs that a patient has PCOS. Excess levels of androgen hormones, male hormones in a female, resulting in physical symptoms such as excessive hairs on the body and the face. Moreover, a patient might have severe acne and a baldness pattern resembling males. Besides, the ovaries and follicles surrounding the eggs may become enlarged, making ovaries malfunction.
Causes
Various factors play in contribute to PCOS. First, excessive insulin levels in the body might lead to raised androgen levels which causes difficulties in ovulation. Second, low-grade inflammation, common in patients with PCOS, stimulates androgen production by the polycystic ovaries. The results are heart and blood vessel problems. Third, the ovaries might also produce elevated androgen levels, which results in acne and hirsutism. Lastly, PCOS might arise from hereditary issues where the disorder’s related genes are passed from a parent to the offspring.
Complications Caused by PCOS
Pregnancy complications might arise if a pregnant woman has PCOS; this includes miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, high blood pressure, and early birth. Heart-related problems also increase due to the presence of PCOS. PCOS results in cardiovascular conditions due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels in the blood, and increased inflammatory proteins. In addition, women suffering from PCOS have more chances of getting prediabetes and type II diabetes than PCOS-free women. Endometrial cancer is also likely if a patient is diagnosed with PCOS.
Treatment
Treatment of PCOS involves changes in an individual’s lifestyle and medication. PCOS treatment focuses on managing specific patient concerns such as obesity, infertility, and hirsutism. Some treatment options for PCOS are lifestyle changes that will help a patient reduce weight. Weight loss may be achieved through exercise and low calories diet intake. Limiting carbohydrate diets is recommended to manage PCOS. High carbohydrate content diets should be substituted with carbohydrates that elevate the blood sugar levels slower. Medications can regulate a patient’s menstrual cycle, which might include a combination of birth control pills containing progestin and estrogen. Such pills help reduce androgen levels produced in the body and regulate estrogen. Period regulation can be achieved by taking progestin for almost two weeks every one to two months, which further helps protect against endometrial cancers.
