Despite the fact that regular gynecological check-ups are essential for women’s health, many of us tend to neglect them until the symptoms become unbearable. The main problem is that many conditions can develop without any severe symptoms and you may even not know about your disease. In this article, we gathered eight alarming reasons to visit a gynecologist right now.
1. Severe pain during periods
Dysmenorrhea (pain during periods) can be caused by natural processes in the women’s body or be aggravated by some underlying medical conditions. If your pain can be eliminated with regular painkillers and passes within a day or two, this is primary dysmenorrhea that doesn’t require any treatment.
Secondary dysmenorrhea occurs with the development of the additional reproductive health issue. That’s why it is essential to visit a gynecologist if your periods suddenly become more painful and heavy. Treatment for dysmenorrhea usually depends on the underlying cause of your condition.
2. Irregular or missed periods
In many cases, irregular or missed periods can be a sign of pregnancy. However, there are some health issues that can also interfere with the normal menstrual cycle. For example, many hormonal issues may block ovulation and as a result, you will have irregular periods.
Polycystic ovary syndrome tends to be one of the most common causes of missed periods since it interferes with ovulation. Moreover, it can also cause infertility and many other unpleasant symptoms.
3. Spotting
Spotting is minor bleeding that occurs between periods. It can be caused by hormonal contraception, pregnancy, various infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids, etc. Some women can also experience light bleeding during ovulation. Due to the variety of possible causes of spotting, it is essential to visit your gynecologist for proper examination and diagnosis.
4. Abnormal discharge
Abnormal vaginal discharge means that your regular discharge has changed its color or texture. In most cases, these changes are caused by infections. Certain STIs can make your discharges green or yellow while yeast infection can make them white and thick.
Don’t try to self-medicate because douching and many other home remedies can easily aggravate your condition. Moreover, untreated infections can cause pelvic inflammatory disease that has a lot of unpleasant symptoms.
5. Unpleasant vaginal odor
Unpleasant vaginal odor can be also caused by infections or bacteria overgrowth. Conditions like bacterial vaginosis, vaginitis, and trichomoniasis can easily change the smell of your discharge. Poor hygiene can also make your genital smell. However, don’t try to hide the unpleasant smell with scented soaps or other products since they will not eliminate the underlying cause and can even lead to irritation.
6. Pain during sex
Pain during sex, also called dyspareunia, can have a lot of causes like uterine fibroids, endometriosis, vaginitis, vaginal dryness, etc. You should understand that there is no need to hide this fact from your gynecologist even if it seems embarrassing to you. Timely and proper treatment can help make your sex more pleasant.
7. Pelvic pressure
The feeling of pressure in the pelvic area can be caused by developing growth. For example, ovarian cysts can grow quite large and cause a lot of unpleasant sensations including pelvic pressure.
Uterine fibroids that grow on the uterine walls can also cause pelvic pressure. A woman can develop only one or multiple fibroids. When the overall size of fibroids increases, they can press on your bladder, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic organs.
8. Vaginal itching
Itching in the vagina and external genitals can be a sign of a certain infection. In many cases, STIs cause inflammation and irritation that may lead to itching. Yeast infection can also cause unbearable itching that is hard to eliminate with the help of home remedies.