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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Reported STDs in the United States 2013 National Data for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis
- Clinical Epidemiology: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Clinical Epidemiology: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
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Diseases of the Human Female Reproductive System
The human female reproductive system includes the external genitals, vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries 1. Diseases of the female reproductive system affect millions of American women of all ages each year 1. These diseases may adversely affect fertility, diminish quality of life or cause potentially life-threatening illness. Regular medical care and treatment for existing diseases of the female reproductive system can help minimize the effects of these conditions 1.
Endometriosis and Adenomyosis
The tissue lining the womb, or uterus, is the endometrium. This tissue grows during the menstrual cycle and is sloughed with the monthly menstrual period if pregnancy does not occur. Endometriosis is a condition wherein endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, usually in other sites within the pelvis such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the outer surface of the uterus.
An estimated 6 to 10 percent of women have endometriosis, but the condition is present in 40 percent of women with fertility problems, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 25. A related condition -- adenomyosis -- describes endometrial tissue that has grown into the muscular wall of the uterus. Endometrial tissue in abnormal locations undergoes the same growth and sloughing as the endometrial lining of the womb, which may lead to cyclic pelvic and/or abdominal pain.
- The tissue lining the womb, or uterus, is the endometrium.
- Endometrial tissue in abnormal locations undergoes the same growth and sloughing as the endometrial lining of the womb, which may lead to cyclic pelvic and/or abdominal pain.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
What Are Some Problems of the Female Reproductive System?
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Roughly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year in the U.S., according to a December 2014 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common examples include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and genital herpes. Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections often go undetected in women as they frequently do not cause symptoms. However, left untreated, these infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID. This infection occurs when bacteria from the vagina and cervix migrate upward into the uterus and fallopian tubes -- the structures that carry eggs from the ovaries to the womb.
The fallopian tubes can can be scarred with PID, leading to infertility in approximately 8 percent of women according to CDC. Fallopian tube scarring also increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy in which a fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube rather than in the womb. CDC estimates more one million American women contract PID each year.
- Roughly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year in the U.S., according to a December 2014 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The fallopian tubes can can be scarred with PID, leading to infertility in approximately 8 percent of women according to CDC.
Ovarian Disorders
The ovaries contain a woman's eggs, which mature and are released in concert with the monthly menstrual cycle. Several disorders can affect the ovaries. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects an estimated 6 to 15 percent of women, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 3. Women with PCOS have abnormally high levels of sex hormones called androgens. This hormone imbalance leads to cysts in the ovaries and symptoms such as irregular or absent periods, increased body hair and acne. Because ovulation -- monthly release of a mature egg -- does not occur normally with PCOS, up to 40 percent of women with the condition may be infertile.
Ovarian cysts also sometimes occur in women without PCOS. These cysts typically go away on their own without treatment, but may cause pelvic pain. Ovarian torsion is an uncommon but serious condition in which an ovary becomes twisted, cutting off its blood supply.
- The ovaries contain a woman's eggs, which mature and are released in concert with the monthly menstrual cycle.
- This hormone imbalance leads to cysts in the ovaries and symptoms such as irregular or absent periods, increased body hair and acne.
Reproductive System Tumors
Endometrial Tuberculosis Symptoms
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Noncancerous tumors can develop in the female reproductive system 1. Uterine fibroids, which arise from the muscle tissue in the uterus, are the most common type. Fibroids occur in approximately 20 to 30 percent of women of reproductive age, but small fibroids often cause no symptoms.
A 2015 report from the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 98,300 women are diagnosed with cancer of the reproductive organs yearly 6. Uterine cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, while ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among American women.
- Noncancerous tumors can develop in the female reproductive system 1.
- Fibroids occur in approximately 20 to 30 percent of women of reproductive age, but small fibroids often cause no symptoms.
Related Articles
References
- The Reproductive System; Kara Rogers, Ph.D.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Endometriosis
- Fertility and Sterility: Consensus on Women’s Health Aspects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): the Amsterdam ESHRE/ ASRM-Sponsored 3rd PCOS Consensus Workshop Group
- Clinical Epidemiology: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Uterine Fibroids
- American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures 2015
- Kehde BH, van Herendael BJ, Tas B, Jain D, Helsen K, Jochems L. Large uterus: what is the limit for a laparoscopic approach? Autops Case Rep. 2016;6(1):51–56. doi:10.4322/acr.2016.025
- Nelsen LM, Lenderking WR, Pokrzywinski R, et al. Experience of symptoms and disease impact in patients with adenomyosis. Patient. 2018;11(3):319–328. doi:10.1007/s40271-017-0284-2
- Davis E, Sparzak PB. Abnormal uterine bleeding (dysfunctional uterine bleeding). In: StatPearls. Updated August 2, 2019.
- Harada T, Khine YM, Kaponis A, Nikellis T, Decavalas G, Taniguchi F. The impact of adenomyosis on women's fertility. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2016;71(9):557–568. doi:10.1097/OGX.0000000000000346
- Mccool WF, Durain D, Davis M. Overview of latest evidence on uterine fibroids. Nurs Womens Health. 2014;18(4):314-31. doi:10.1111/1751-486X.12137
- Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK. Uterine fibroids: current perspectives. Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:95–114. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S51083
- Taran FA, Stewart EA, Brucker S. Adenomyosis: epidemiology, risk factors, clinical phenotype and surgical and interventional alternatives to hysterectomy. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2013;73(9):924–931. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1350840
- Pakish JB, Lu KH, Sun CC, et al. Endometrial cancer associated symptoms: a case-control study. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016;25(11):1187–1192. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5657
- NIH Genetics Home Reference. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Updated May 12, 2020.
- Alam S, Ahmad S, Khan MM, et al. Role of benign ovarian cysts in the development of adenomyosis. Saudi Med J. 2016;37(9):963–967. doi:10.15537/smj.2016.9.13599
- Aniebue U, Nwankwo T. Complete utero vaginal prolapse in a woman with prolapsed submucous fibroid. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2015;5(1):83–85. doi:10.4103/2141-9248.149795
- Deffieux X, Thubert T, Huchon C, et al. Complications des tumeurs ovariennes présumées bénignes [Complications of presumed benign ovarian tumors]. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 2013;42(8):816‐832. doi:10.1016/j.jgyn.2013.09.036
- ASCO Cancer.net. Uterine cancer: statistics. Updated January 2020.
- American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Endometrial Cancer.
- American Cancer Society. What Is Endometrial Cancer?
- Cleveland Clinic. Adenomyosis.
- Cleveland Clinic. Uterine Fibroids.
- Medline Plus. Ovarian Cysts.
- PubMed Health. Uterine fibroids: Overview.
Writer Bio
Dr. St. John is a medical writer and editor with more than 15 years experience in the field. She is a former medical officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.