Here are some main problems that women should know about and some answers to common diseases, along with directions on how to observe yourself to determine whether or not you belong to a risk group.
Vaginitis
This condition occurs inside the vagina and near the vaginal opening. Common symptoms include abnormal discharges, irritation, odors, discharges mixed with blood and burning sensations inside the vagina. The condition can be diagnosed through an internal examination along with testing of the discharges in order to determine whether the cause of vaginitis is fungal or bacterial in nature in order to prescribe the proper treatment. This is because each cause requires a different management approach. The condition can be sub-divided briefly as follows:
- Fungal discharges are caused by moisture. The discharges in this case appear powdery and are accompanied by vaginal irritation.
- Bacterial discharges are accompanied by a foul smell, or odors after sexual intercourse, etc.
The risk factors for vaginitis include vaginal douching, use of sanitary napkins, wearing a tight skirt or pants, which causes the legs to be pressed too tightly together, along with frequently taking anti-inflammatory medications or having a weakened immune system. These factors can easily alter the environment inside the vagina to lead to discharges and other symptoms. When symptoms occur, you should quickly consult a doctor, since frequent symptoms in the cervix can cause irritation and may increase risk of cervical cancer.
Irregular menstrual cycle
In people who experience irregular menstrual cycles, most go to see the doctor when they experience inconsistent menstruation or excessively heavy or excessively light menstruation, including lack of menstruation not caused by pregnancy. These signs may indicate the function of the ovaries, and, in older people, may be linked to endometrial cancer. There are 2 ways to diagnose the main causes of irregular menstruation, namely, internal examination and abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound.
Abdominal masses
For abdominal masses, women will go see the doctor with abdominal pain, frequent urination, abnormal bleeding, masses perceived through palpation and weight loss. Most cases suggest leading symptoms of many gynecological diseases, including tumors in the uterine muscles, ovarian and fallopian tumors, endometriosis, etc. Diagnosis is possible via ultrasound to identify the source of the abnormality and to determine whether it is a cyst, non-malignant tumor or cancer, etc.
Gynecologic cancer
This is one of the leading cancers that continuously claim the lives of Thai women. Although the incidence of this disease has decreased somewhat due to women’s greater awareness and care for gynecological diseases, it remains a major issue that everyone should continuously give importance to. This is because, there are many types of gynecologic cancer, with cervical cancer being the most prevalent, followed by ovarian cancer.
Basic Self-care for the Vagina in Women
Avoid douching the vagina; use sanitary napkins only on menstruation days; avoid wearing tight skirts or pants; exercise regularly; rest sufficiently and control your body weight to remain within the standard range and avoid fatty food, since fat is the precursor to many diseases, including ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer, etc.
