Common Women's Pelvic Health Problems
When you are suffering from one or more common women's pelvic health problems, the fact that they are "common" may be little consolation to you. There is good news for women, however, with regard to pelvic health; your doctor is well versed in caring for your particular problems and there are many support groups out there full of women going through the same things you are. In other words, help is never far away.
What Are the Most Common Women's Pelvic Health Problems?
Women's pelvic health problems come in a variety of forms and severities. Some of the more common include:
- Uterine fibroids. Approximately three quarters of the female population will suffer from fibroids by the time they reach 50 years of age. These are tumors that grow inside the uterus and are usually benign. Most fibroids cause no problems and go undetected, but some can cause symptoms such as heavy or prolonged menstrual periods, pain or pressure in the pelvic area, and frequent urges to urinate yet feeling as though the bladder is never completely emptied.
- Heavy menstrual periods. An estimated 40 percent of pre-menopausal and menopausal women will experience heavy periods, although the condition is not isolated to this age group alone. There can be many causes of this affliction, so if it is bothersome to you then it is a good idea to see your doctor. Treatments are available that can lessen or eliminate the symptoms, but the cause must first be discovered.
- Urinary incontinence. While this common women's pelvic health problem happens quite frequently, it is no less embarrassing for the sufferer. Laughing, coughing, or sneezing may produce a small, incontrollable amount of urine leakage. Urinary incontinence is common after childbirth, but there are other causes as well. Effective treatments are available, so talk to your doctor if you are having symptoms of this troublesome but manageable condition.
Prolapse of the pelvic organs is another common women's pelvic health problem that can cause some
discomfort. In this condition, the pelvic floor essentially gives way and the organs that it once
supported now droop. Full or partial hysterectomies are usually the required treatment for a uterine
prolapse, depending on how severe the prolapse is and whether or not alternative therapies could be
effective. Prolapse of the bladder, bowel, vagina, or rectum may require other forms of
reconstructive surgery to reinforce the pelvic floor and return the organs to their naturally
occurring position.
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