FAQ
Gynecology/Obstetrics
The development of a pregnancy outside the uterus is called an ectopic pregnancy. Among the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy are sexually transmitted diseases, surgical interventions, endometriosis and appendicitis. Signs of ectopic pregnancy may include a positive pregnancy test with or without vaginal bleeding. The diagnosis is made as a result of questioning the patient, physical examination, vaginal ultrasonographic examination and laboratory examinations. Depending on the location and size of the ectopic pregnancy, the necessary treatment is planned. An ectopic pregnancy usually requires surgical intervention. However, sometimes medical treatments can be applied if the patient is in the early gestational period and medical control of the patient is possible.
Irregular menstrual bleeding, varying in amount and duration, may be an indicator. Hot flashes, sweating, insomnia may occur. The severity of the complaints may differ from woman to woman. There are also women who do not have such findings. Hormone tests can determine whether it is menopause or not.
There are many different opinions on the subject. Authorities recommend women in the average risk group to have a mammogram after the age of 40. If you are in a higher-risk group, it would be appropriate to talk to your doctor about starting mammograms earlier or about other test options that are appropriate for you.
Kegel exercises are the most effective natural way to control and prevent urinary incontinence. It is very easy to learn and apply them, and they are very useful. They were invented by Arnold Kegel and can be applied at any age. They prevent urinary incontinence and strengthen the pelvic floor by strengthening the bladder and vagina muscles, which we call the pelvic floor muscles. Although Kegel exercises are especially useful in stress urinary incontinence, they are also useful in other types of urinary incontinence. They are also useful in mixed-type incontinence (in situations where there is both stress and urgent urinary incontinence, and in overactive bladder). They are useful not only for women but also for men with urinary incontinence problems.
Hold your urine suddenly while urinating. In this way, you will stop the urine flow for 10 seconds by contracting the pelvic floor muscles. Then, urinate for 10 seconds and you will learn which muscles you are using in 7 to 10 days. After learning, do 10 sets 3-4 times a day, that is, hold for 10 seconds and release for 10 seconds. You can do this at any time of the day and anywhere without anyone noticing, while watching TV, cooking, eating, in bed or standing.
Both are benign formations. Polyps are formed when the tissue in the innermost layer of the uterus grows more than necessary towards the inside of the uterus and the cervix. Although most fibroids and polyps do not cause symptoms, they can sometimes cause complaints. The most common complaints are abnormal bleeding, inguinal and abdominal pain, feeling of fullness and pressure in the groin and abdomen, pain during sexual intercourse. Fibroids and polyps do not directly cause infertility, but they can affect fertility depending on their location. Because, depending on the location, they can make it difficult for the sperm and egg to pass through the tubes or prevent the embryo from settling in the uterus. As the fibroid grows, the endometrium layer on it is stretched and its blood supply is impaired. In this case, even if the embryo settles in the uterus, it may develop a miscarriage because it does not get enough blood. Medications or surgical methods are generally used in the treatment of fibroids. It is possible to remove polyps hysteroscopically.
Cervical cancer can be asymptomatic in its early stages. As stromal invasion progresses, the disease becomes clinically evident. It shows various growth patterns that can be seen on genital tract examination. Early lesions appear as rough, reddish granular areas that bleed on touch. These women with moderately advanced or advanced invasive cervical cancer often show one or more of the following symptoms. These symptoms are loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, pelvic pain, back pain, leg pain, unilateral swollen leg, excessive bleeding from the vagina, urine or stool from the vagina, and bone fractures due to metastasis development. In addition, intermenstrual bleeding, postcoital bleeding, excessive seropurulent discharge, recurrent cystitis, low back pain, lower abdominal pain, edema in the lower extremities, obstructive uropathy, intestinal obstruction, dyspnea due to severe anemia, and cachexia are some other symptoms that can be seen. Especially in the presence of vaginal bleeding, the presence of malignancy (malignant tumor) should be considered. However, increased vaginal discharge and pain during sexual intercourse are also symptoms of cervical cancer. In the later stages of the disease, metastases can be seen in the abdomen, lungs and other regions.
More advanced cancers present as proliferating, blistering, mushroom- or cauliflower-like growing lesions with bleeding and foul-smelling discharge. Sometimes it is seen as a completely enlarged irregular cervix with a rough, granular surface without much superficial enlargement. As the invasion increases, the vagina, parametrium (connective tissue around the uterus), pelvic side walls, bladder and rectum are involved. Compression of the ureter due to advanced regional disease causes ureteral obstruction resulting in hydronephrosis and eventually, renal failure develops. In addition to regional invasion, metastases to regional lymph nodes occur. Metastatic cancer in the paraaortic lymph nodes may spread out of the lymph node capsule and directly involve the vertebrae and nerve roots, causing back pain. Direct spread of the branches of the sciatic nerve roots causes back, waist and leg pain, and compression of the pelvic wall veins and lymphatics causes edema in the legs. Distant metastases occur late in the disease, usually paraaortic nodes, lungs, liver, bone and other structures are involved.
Because the ovaries are on the inside of the groin, it is very difficult to diagnose ovarian cancer in the early stages. There is no screening test for women who have no complaints. Detection of a mass in this area during the gynecological examination allows the doctor to order some tests. One of these tests is ultrasound imaging. In this method, which is performed by placing a small instrument inside the vagina, the mass in the ovaries is detected. Immobility of this mass increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer. However, with this method, it cannot be determined whether the tumor is benign or malignant. To understand this, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and views the ovaries with an instrument called a laparoscope. Meanwhile, he takes a small piece of the tumor. In addition, the high detection of CA-125, which is a cancer indicator, in blood tests, together with other tests, makes the diagnosis to a large extent. In addition, this test is very important in the follow-up of patients. Performing this test at regular intervals ensures that the response of the patients to the treatment and the possibility of recurrence are followed. But CA-125 is not only elevated in ovarian cancer. In cases such as ovarian cysts and infection, the level of this substance in the blood increases. For the definitive diagnosis of the disease, the part taken from the tumor should be examined in the pathology laboratory.
Yes, there is a genetic link between ovarian cancer and colon cancer that increases risk factors.