The female reproductive system is complex yet very important. Women, regardless of their age and lifestyle, should prioritize taking care of their reproductive system because this significantly affects their ability to conceive and carry a child. A woman’s negligence in taking care of their reproductive system can result in severe diseases such as endometriosis and prolapsed uterus.
It’ll be challenging for any women to function and make the most out of their lives if they don’t know how to properly take care of their reproductive system. Reproductive system diseases can become the reason why a woman can’t bear a child, and this can eventually take a toll on their relationships and mental health. A lot of women believe that their essence in life is to give birth to a child – and if their reproductive system isn’t capable of doing this, they will eventually succumb to anxiety and depression.
Fortunately, there are OB-GYNs or obstetrician-gynecologist who can help you diagnose and treat health problems concerning your reproductive system.
What Is An OB-GYN?
Simply defined, an OB-GYN or obstetrician-gynecologist is a medical professional who specializes in the female reproductive health. While some OB-GYNs provide a wide variety of services like your primary care doctor, others only focus on the medical care of the female reproductive system.
OB-GYNs can easily be reached in most hospitals or even through online platforms such as https://www.leavittwomenshealthcare.com/. The expertise of an OB-GYN is actually essential for every woman, and not just for those who are pregnant or about to give birth. Ideally, every woman should work with an experienced OB-GYN to regularly check their reproductive health and diagnose if there any underlying health problems.
What Are The Common Health Concerns To See An OBGYN For?
As mentioned, the female reproductive system is important, and its condition can significantly affect your overall health and wellness. For example, the inability of a woman to bear a child can eventually become a problem in their relationships and the symptoms associated with any reproductive health concern can hinder women from seizing opportunities in life.
You can prevent all of these things from happening by exerting time and effort in taking care of your reproductive health. Moreover, it’ll be easy for you to improve or maintain your reproductive health when you seek an OB-GYN the moment you suspect that you’re currently suffering from any of these health concerns:
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases Or STDS
Sex is essential to every person’s overall well-being. When you are in a relationship, having sex with your partner is an intimate form of your bond with each other. Sex can also provide countless emotional and physical benefits that can strengthen your relationship and improve the quality of your life. Sex is beneficial, but engaging in one without the necessary protection can adversely affect your reproductive health.
If you often engage in unprotected sex, and suspect that you have sexually transmitted diseases, consult an OB-GYN right away. Some of the most common symptoms of STD include bumps or sores on the genitals, rectal or oral area, painful or burning urination, and unusual or odd-smelling vaginal discharge. Painful sex and unusual vaginal bleeding are also signs of STD.
When left untreated, STD can cause female sterility, blindness, bone deformities, cervical cancer, and cancer of the vagina. If you often engage in unprotected sex or have multiple sex partners, make sure to consult an OB-GYN as often as possible.
- Decreased Sex Drive
As mentioned, sex plays a significant role in a woman’s life. Sex can make you look younger, boost your fertility, fight colds and flu, and smoothen out your wrinkles. Most importantly, sex can do wonders to your relationship as this can help you make a stronger and better connection with your partner.
However, you won’t be able to enjoy all of these benefits if you alarmingly have a low sex drive. Aside from depriving yourself of the health benefits you can get from sex, decreased sex drive can also cause disputes and problems in your relationship. How can you keep your partner satisfied and happy if you no longer want to have sex with him? Do you think your partner will actually stay loyal to you if this were the case?
If you’ve noticed that your sex drive has been decreasing drastically, opt to consult an OB-GYN about it. This health problem is caused by different reasons such as sexual problems, medical diseases, lifestyle habits, medications, and even fatigue. Save yourself the stress from making guesses in figuring out the cause of the problem and see an OB-GYN if you want to increase your sex drive.
- Menopause
Women will experience menopause when their ovaries stop functioning and their monthly period stops. Menopause also marks the end of their childbearing years as women can no longer conceive and bear a child during this time. Women experience menopause in different times of their lives – while some experience menopause at age 50, others experience menopause a little bit older or younger.
Although menopause is a natural stage in every woman’s life, its symptoms can be very unbearable to some. Menopause can cause vaginal dryness, hot flashes, chills, night sweats, mood changes, and even weight gain. Some women also complain about having sleep problems during their menopause.
When women fail to adjust during this time, their relationships often suffer. Menopause can usually cause a woman to be grumpy, and can become the reason why arguments between their partners or families arise.
If you fear you’re about to reach this point of your life, or you’re already experiencing the symptoms of menopause, talk to your OB-GYN about it. They can provide tips so you can easily transition to this stage in your life, so you still make the most of your years!
- Vaginal Infections
Most women shun away from discussing vaginal infections, but you shouldn’t because this is actually a common reproductive health concern. According to statistics, over 21.2 million women in the world experience bacterial vaginosis. The health concern is characterized by having thin, green or white vagina discharge, and experiencing a burning sensation during urination. A foul-smelling vaginal odor is also a common symptom to watch out for.
If you’ve ticked off any of the symptoms mentioned, schedule an appointment with your OB-GYN right away. Vaginal infections are serious health concerns that can cause preterm birth, sexually transmitted infections, and pelvic inflammatory diseases. The longer you leave this health problem untreated, the higher chances you’ll have in developing other health conditions.
Vaginal infections are often caused by several factors, namely having multiple sex partners or a new sex partner, frequent douching and natural lack of lactobacilli bacteria in the body. If these habits are part of your lifestyle, ask an OB-GYN on how you can correct all of these, so you can turn over a new life and easily take care of your reproductive health moving forward.
- Breast Lump & Common Breast Problems
Aside from playing a significant role in women’s appearance, the breast is also vital because it produces milk for infants. Breast milk provides essential vitamins and minerals that can help infants grow and develop properly. Moreover, the breast also contains thousands of lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and blood vessels that function by sending signals to the brain.
Your breast is an important part of your body, which is why you should regularly check your breasts for any lumps. These lumps, regardless of the size, are a cause for concern because this is a sign of a benign breast condition. Infections, nipple discharges, and skin changes around your breasts are also signs of benign breast conditions.
If you notice any of the signs mentioned, consult an OB-GYN right away. Although non-cancerous, benign breast conditions can worsen especially when the lumps start to become more visible through the skin. These lumps can eventually take a toll on your mental health and sex life.
- Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
It’s common for women to menstruate once a month. Some women also experience bleeding or spotting between their periods and even during the first trimesters of their pregnancy. These occurrences are normal among women, but you should pay attention to the flow and frequency of the bleeding because anything that’s abnormal should be consulted to an OB-GYN. This is especially true if you’re pregnant.
Vaginal bleeding is considered abnormal if you notice that the bleeding happens when you’re not expecting your monthly period or when your menstrual flow is heavier or lighter than the usual. You should also see an OB-GYN if you notice that the bleeding takes place after menopause.
It’s always best to see an OB-GYN the moment you experience vaginal bleeding as this is often caused by cancers and precancerous conditions, as well as by fertility and reproduction problems. Some women also experience vaginal bleeding due to infections such as gonorrhea, endometritis, and cervicitis.
- Painful Periods
Women will have their periods every month. This is a normal occurrence but feeling unbearable pain during your period is not normal. Most women think that severe cramps, headaches, and breast soreness are normal during their periods but actually, they’re not. Experiencing these discomforts every month will surely make it very challenging for your whole body to function and might even cause you not showing up for work. Some women can’t even manage to stand up from their beds during their periods.
If you consider your period as an unpleasant time of the month, talk to an OB-GYN about it as soon as possible. Any kinds of pain associated with your period are signs of more severe health concerns such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis. By talking to an OB-GYN, you’ll be presented with solutions that can help make your period more bearable.
- Pelvic Pain
Every human being is bound to experience pain at some point in their lives. While some types of pain usually go away naturally, others can become chronic to the point where you can no longer do anything during the day because of it. Experiencing chronic pelvic pain is another health concern that should prompt you to see an OB-GYN immediately.
Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t solely depend on pain relievers whenever you experience chronic pelvic pain. Often, taking pain relievers for chronic pelvic pain isn’t enough to alleviate the discomfort because this health problem is one of the most common symptoms of the following conditions:
- Pelvic Adhesions: Pelvic adhesions happen when a scar tissue starts to form in your organs or in between two structures that are not normally connected to each other. When this tissue attaches itself to your organs, the nearby surfaces will become inflamed and develop gynecological conditions such as endometriosis. When left untreated, pelvic adhesions can cause infertility, painful intercourse, and bowel obstruction or blockage.
- Uterine Fibroids: Uterine fibroids develop in the uterus and can continue growing until it damages your uterine muscle wall and the outer surface of your uterus. Fibroids can change the original shape of your uterus, and its associated symptoms can also change over time. Uterine fibroids can cause painful periods, anemia, lower backache, leg pain, and labor problems.
- Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a disease wherein your endometrial cells start to grow and thrive in other parts of your body like in your pelvis. Once this happens, you’ll experience painful periods and pain during intercourse. In worse cases, endometriosis can also affect your fertility, and can become the reason why you can no longer conceive.
- Ovarian Cysts: Ovarian cysts are characterized as fluid-filled sacs that form inside your ovary. Ovarian cysts are more common among women aged 20 to 35 years old, and doesn’t always have visible symptoms. The absence of noticeable symptoms is one of the reasons why you should consult an OB-GYN the moment you experience chronic pelvic pain. Don’t wait for the condition to worsen because, by this time, treatment might be expensive or unavailable.
Choose Carefully
There are countless OB-GYNs operating in different parts of the world today, so make sure that you’ll be working with someone you’re comfortable with. Spend time to check their history, specialization, and location, as well. The more you know about a particular OB-GYN, the easier it’ll be for you to choose one that fits your needs and budget!
