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Gynaecological Consultation
Every woman should undergo regular gynaecological examination, even if nothing bothers her. To visit a “women’s doctor” ideally should be twice a year, but necessarily once a year. especially after 35 years, when the risk of reproductive diseases increases. Often even obvious symptoms can not force to go to the doctor – overcomes fear, embarrassment, not enough time.
According to statistics, 30 to 50% of women suffer from gynaecological diseases. Many of these diseases cause infertility and some are life-threatening. Many diseases have no obvious symptoms, especially in early-stage cancer. Therefore, regularly visiting the doctor, with a high probability, the disease can be detected at the initial stage and successfully treated.
The most common gynaecological diseases
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Inflammatory diseases. These include inflammation of the ovaries and tubes, endometritis(inflammation of the uterus), cervicitis(inflammation of the cervix), vaginitis(inflammatory processes in the vagina). Inflammation is caused by opportunistic bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Infections, hypothermia, decreased body defenses, and hormonal disorders contribute to the development of diseases. Inflammation can be acute and chronic. In the first case, the disease is usually accompanied by bright symptoms: there are pains in the lower abdomen, unusual discharge appears, and body temperature may increase. Chronic inflammatory diseases are often asymptomatic, and they can lead to adhesions, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy.
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Sexually transmitted infections. These are gonococcal, trichomonas, chlamydia, Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma, etc. Usually, the vaginal mucouse is affected, but if left untreated, the inflammation can spread higher(uterus, appendages). Not all infections or viruses have manifestations and a woman may not even know about the disease. For example, the human papillomavirus does not always manifest in the form of genital warts, but the virus circulates in the blood, and some of its types are oncogenic, and if left untreated, can lead to the development of cancer.
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polycystic ovary Syndrome, violation of the menstrual cycle. Usually, a disease such as PCOS causes menstrual irregularities, is accompanied by obesity, hirsutism, acne, and often infertility.
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Endometriosis is a hormone-dependent disease that is difficult to treat. When it occurs, abnormal tissue similar to the endometrium grows into the wall of the uterus, beyond it, on the ovaries, tubes, intestines, and even into the lungs. Endometriosis is characterized by pain in the lower abdomen, pain and discomfort during sexual life, dark spotting before and after menstruation.
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Benign and malignant neoplasms are more common in women older than 40 years, although Oncology tends to get younger. Of the benign formations – this is uterine fibroids, cysts of various etiologies.
Among the malignancies in the first place is cervical cancer. The earlier it is diagnosed, the more likely it is to be cured in time. In second and third place-ovarian and uterine cancer, respectively. Also, early diagnosis will help save lives. One of the most important methods of preventing cervical cancer is to make a PAP-test every year for all women over 30 years of age, and in the presence of erosions, cysts and ectopias on the cervix – and at any age.
Along with the treatment of gynecological diseases, the gynecologist will help in the selection of contraceptive methods, in family planning, give advice and instructions on intimate hygiene.
Thus, regular gynecological examinations are very important for women.
How the gynecological consultation takes place
It is very important to find a competent and tactful doctor, whom you can fully trust,there will be no fear and embarrassment, and all visits will be comfortable for you.
The procedure of gynecological examination begins with the collection of anamnesis .
The doctor will listen to your complaints, if any, and ask the following questions:
-At what age the period started, its regularity, duration, date of the last menstruation (often patients do not remember this data, so it is recommended to keep a calendar of their cycle; today there are many applications for smartphones, where you can enter all this data).
-does a woman live a sexual life, at what age did the first sexual contact take place, what method of protection is used.
-are she planning to get pregnant in the near future;
-how many pregnancies there were, how they ended(childbirth, abortions, miscarriages);
-are there any chronic gynecological and concomitant chronic diseases;
Then the doctor starts the examination. It is nesessary for the gynecologist to examine and palpate the breast and lymph nodes. If pathological formations or nodules are detected, they are referred to a mammologist. Further examination on the gynecological chair. During the inspection of the external genitalia, the doctor may see redness, abnormal discharge and formation(such as warts, herpes) and other signs of infection.
Internal gynecological examination of women and girls is carried out differently. Patients who live a sexual life, the doctor examines with the help of vaginal mirrors of different sizes and shapes. With this mirror can examine the vaginal and cervical mucosa, detect erosion, ectopia, leukoplakia, cyst, neoplasm, omission of organs. Usually, women do not feels pain when they are examined. During the examination with mirrors, the doctor takes a smear or scrape from the walls of the vagina, cervix for bacteriological tests, determining the flora in the vagina, diagnosing infectios, PAP test.
The second part of the internal examination is a bimanual examination, that is, a hand examination. Thus, the doctor palpates ovaries, tubes, uterus, determines their size, location, mobility. During this examination, it is often possible to detect uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and inflammatory processes.
In girls, the internal examination is performed differently. Mirrors and other instruments are not used, and no vaginal examination is performed due to the risk of damaging the hymen. To assess the condition of the internal genitals, the gynecologist conducts rectal examinations, which is also an informative method.
If no abnormalities are detected, the next visit is recommended in 6-12 months. Or if there are complaints-unscheduled at any time.
The key to women’s health is a responsible attitude to it, regular examinations and laboratory tests.