What are female discomforts?

Women's reproductive organs make up a complex system that may cause various female discomforts at different stages of life. Knowing what these discomforts are and their causes may help you to identify the simple symptoms that affect your body and to know when to visit your doctor for a professional diagnosis.

+ Women's bodies, when fertilized during conception, become pregnant and can give birth to a child. The female reproductive system undergoes cyclical events. The reproductive cycle begins with the ovaries, releasing female egg cells called ova into the Fallopian tubes. Conception, normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. After conception, the uterus becomes the environment for the fertilized egg or zygote. The zygote can grow into an embryo and after three months of pregnancy, a fetus. The fetus continues to grow inside the uterus until the baby travels through the birth canal on the way to being born.

The ovaries not only produce ova; they also produce the female sex hormones progesterone and estrogen. Other hormones secreted by the pituitary gland, interact with the hormones produced by the ovaries, to maintain the reproductive and menstrual cycle. Ovulation takes place on, or around the 14th day of the menstrual cycle. If the mature ovum is fertilized, conception occurs; if the egg is not fertilized, it is discharged with the lining of the womb, this process constitutes the menstruation period. Each woman's menstrual cycle varies from puberty until menopause. Your period is affected by hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, childbirth, age, nervous states or illnesses. These fluctuations can cause a number of discomforts, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), abundant hemorrhaging, irregular or few periods and other irregularities. Menopause is also associated with a number of discomforts, not limited to this stage of life, such as hot flashes, osteoporosis and vaginal drying. During pregnancy normal discomforts include morning sickness, backaches and trouble sleeping.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Breast problems, vaginal yeast infections and other ailments can appear at any stage of a woman's life. All of these discomforts can affect your energy, making you tired or depressed. You should always visit your doctor to treat any female discomfort. In addition, there are a number of complementary therapies that can help to relieve symptoms and fortify the immune system.

ANNUAL TESTS

Gynecological tests, should be a regular practice from puberty throughout adult womanhood. You should visit your gynecologist at least once a year for a check-up. Women who are susceptible to infections, or with history of breast or ovarian cancer should visit their gynecologist every 6 months. Tests done during a routine check-up:

1. • Smears Test
2. • Pelvic Examination
3. • External Genital Examination
4. • Speculum Examination
5. • Breast Examination
6. • Mammography

Women over 40 should have mammograms every year; younger women whose families have a history of breast cancer should consult their clinicians.

1. • Densitometric Analysis or Bone Density Test

During menopause.