Common Women's Health Issues

At Complete Healthcare for Women, we help women for a wide variety of health issues. However, there are certain common health issues that we see more often than others. Read on below for some common health concerns women face.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common health condition of the uterus. When a woman has endometriosis, the tissue that lines the uterine wall grows outside of the uterus; for example, it may grow behind the uterus, on the ovaries, on the bladder, or on the bowels. This often results in chronic pain, infertility, and heavy periods; however, many women do not exhibit symptoms and don’t find out they have it until they are trying to conceive.

Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that are common in women during their reproductive years. These fibroids made of muscle tissue grow around the uterus for an unknown reason. They are more common in women who are African-American or overweight. They can cause heavy/painful periods, lower back pain, painful sex, frequent urination, and reproductive problems. However, it is possible to show no symptoms, so routine annual exams are essential to detect their presence.

Cancer

Women are at risk for developing several gynecologic cancers that men do not develop. These include cervical cancer (cancer of the cervix), ovarian cancer (cancer of the ovaries), uterine cancer (cancer of the uterus), vagina cancer (cancer of the vagina), and vulvar cancer (cancer of the vulva). Additionally, while men can also contract breast cancer, it is most common in women. At Complete Healthcare for Women, we screen our patients for these cancers during their annual exam in order to catch any cancerous cells early to prevent it from spreading.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition in which a woman’s ovaries produce more testosterone than is normal for women. This results in cysts forming on the ovaries. Symptoms of PCOS include pelvic pain, excess hair growth, baldness, acne, and infertility. Women with PCOS are more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes.

STIs/HIV/AIDS

At Complete Healthcare for Women, we offer STI and HIV testing. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases that are contracted by having sex with someone who has it. There are dozens of sexually transmitted infections, but some common ones include gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This virus can be sexually transmitted, destroys the immune system, and causes AIDS. HIV/AIDS cannot be cured; once one contracts it, they have it forever.

Infertility

If after a year of trying to conceive, a woman is not able to become pregnant, she has infertility. Infertility is a common problem for couples, and roughly a third of the time, they cannot conceive due to an issue with the woman. Fortunately, there are many different approaches to treating infertility in women. If you are concerned about your fertility, contact Complete Healthcare for Women to learn more about our treatments.

At Complete Healthcare for Women, we can help you with any of your health concerns. Schedule an appointment with our women’s health clinic today.

Complete Healthcare for Women - Obstetrics and Gynecology

(509) 392-6700

Richard Lorenzo, D.O.

Kortney Jones ARNP

Author

Richard Lorenzo, DO Dr. Lorenzo is also a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He provides gynecological and obstetric services, including prenatal care, pregnancy care, infertility, and gynecology. Dr. Lorenzo is proficient in advanced surgical techniques, including minimally-invasive procedures, as well as surgery for abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, and hysterectomy. He has specialized training in high-risk obstetrics and minimally invasive surgical techniques, including minimally invasive hysterectomy.