Category: Health A – Z

The menstrual cycle is the regular natural change that occurs in the female reproductive system (specifically the uterus and ovaries) that makes pregnancy possible. The cycle is required for the production of oocytes, and for the preparation of the uterus for pregnancy.[rx] The menstrual cycle occurs due to the rise and fall of estrogen.[rx] This cycle results in the thickening of the lining of the uterus, and the…

Poor Ovarian Reserve is a condition of low fertility characterized by 1): low numbers of remaining oocytes in the ovaries or 2) possibly impaired preantral oocyte development or recruitment. Recent research suggests that premature ovarian aging and premature ovarian failure (aka primary ovarian insufficiency) may represent a continuum of premature ovarian senescence.[rx] It is usually accompanied by high FSH (follicle-stimulating…

Middle pain and Midcycle Pain/Mittelschmerz—or ovulation pain, as it is commonly known today—is a benign preovulatory lower abdominal pain that occurs midcycle (between days 7 and 24) in women. Mittelschmerz may affect over 40% of women of reproductive age, and it occurs almost every month in these patients. It generally does not begin until a…

Benign Preovulatory Lower Abdominal Pain/Mittelschmerz—or ovulation pain, as it is commonly known today—is a benign preovulatory lower abdominal pain that occurs midcycle (between days 7 and 24) in women. Mittelschmerz may affect over 40% of women of reproductive age, and it occurs almost every month in these patients. It generally does not begin until a few years…

Ovulation Pain/Mittelschmerz—or ovulation pain, as it is commonly known today—is a benign preovulatory lower abdominal pain that occurs midcycle (between days 7 and 24) in women. Mittelschmerz may affect over 40% of women of reproductive age, and it occurs almost every month in these patients. It generally does not begin until a few years following menarche when…

Mittelschmerz—or ovulation pain, as it is commonly known today—is a benign preovulatory lower abdominal pain that occurs midcycle (between days 7 and 24) in women. Mittelschmerz may affect over 40% of women of reproductive age, and it occurs almost every month in these patients. It generally does not begin until a few years following menarche when the…

Endometrial biopsy is frequently used to evaluate abnormal uterine bleeding. It is a relatively quick and cost-effective way to sample the endometrium to allow for direct histological evaluation of the endometrium. It is essential to have as endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will…

Endometrial hyperplasia is a disordered proliferation of endometrial glands. It results from the unopposed estrogenic stimulation of the endometrial tissue with a relative deficiency of the counterbalancing effects of progesterone.[rx] This imbalance in the hormonal milieu can be seen in a number of conditions where the cause of estrogen excess is either endogenous or exogenous. The…

Postmenopausal Bleeding (PMB) is defined as abnormal uterine bleeding occurring after 1 year of permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from loss of ovarian follicular activity.[rx] About 90%–95% of postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer (EC) experience vaginal bleeding, whereas about 10% of symptomatic postmenopausal women reveal an intrauterine malignancy.[rx] The average age of menopause is fifty-one…

What Is Chronic Pelvic Pain /Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) is defined as cyclical or non-cyclical pain of at least 6 months’ duration. Aspects of pain may include dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dysuria and dyschezia. Dysmenorrhea in isolation does not constitute CPP. CPP affects up to 24% of women worldwide [rx]. It accounts for 20% of gynecological clinic…

Nonrelaxing pelvic floor dysfunction is not widely recognized. Unlike in pelvic floor disorders caused by relaxed muscles (eg, pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence, both of which often are identified readily), women affected by non relaxing pelvic floor dysfunction may present with a broad range of nonspecific symptoms. These may include pain and problems with…

Procidentia is a severe form of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) that includes herniation of the anterior, posterior, and apical vaginal compartments through the vaginal introitus. Pelvic organ prolapse can include all three compartments, such as in Providencia, or individual compartments. When the anterior vaginal compartment herniates through the vaginal introitus, this is a cystocele. When…