Female genital disease

Historically, discussions surrounding feminine reproductive and sexual health have been subject to social stigma within Western society.[3] Women in Western society may avoid discussing problems relating to the female reproductive system, including problems related to female sexual health, with their healthcare providers.[3] As a result, diagnosis of female genital diseases may be delayed or missed. Social determinants of health including economic and logistical burden of seeking healthcare may also interfere with timely diagnosis of female genital disease.[4]

Individuals who have female genitals and/or reproductive organs but who do not identify as women may experience additional difficulties in seeking diagnosis of female genital diseases. Societal discrimination,[5] gender dysphoria,[6] and insufficient transgender healthcare education[5][7] are some reasons that transgender individuals may be unable to obtain medical care for female genital diseases.

Malformations can be congenital. They are classified by location of the malformation, such as uterine malformation.

An example is oophoritis.

A Bartholin's cyst is an abscess of a Bartholin's gland. Bartholin's glands are located within the labia, or the skin folds surrounding the vaginal opening.[17] Bartholin's cysts can be painful and may require drainage or surgical removal in order to resolve.[17]

Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition which involves the sensation of pain in the area surrounding the vaginal opening in response to physical stimulation such as vaginal penetration.[18] This condition can be distressing to people who have it as it can interfere with intimacy.[18] There is no standardized treatment for vulvodynia, but some options include pelvic floor physical therapy and pharmacologic pain management.[18]

Vaginal prolapse, otherwise known as pelvic organ prolapse, is when a person’s vagina descends due to pelvic organ pressure or due to tissue injury and/or muscle weakness.[19] Some of the risk factors include previous pelvic surgeries as well as activities and conditions that increase intrabdominal pressure such as childbirth, obesity, and older age. Symptoms of vaginal prolapse are vaginal bulge, urinary and fecal incontinence, and sexual dysfunction.[19][20] Treatment for vaginal prolapse can be either conservative or surgical according to Kapoor et. al. Some of the conservative treatments include Kegel exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor and pessaries which aim to put the vagina in a normal position.[21] Surgical treatment options include colpocleisis, vaginal reconstruction, and abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Colpocleisis is a obliterative procedure that would remove the possibility of vaginal intercourse. Therefore, a person's desire to get pregnant is considered when deciding treatment for this condition.[20]

Bacterial vaginosis is a condition that occurs when there is an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina.[22] The community of bacteria that normally exists in the vagina is called the vaginal flora. The flora serves as a defense against the invasion and colonization of opportunistic pathogens including bacterial vaginosis, fungi, viruses, and protozoa.[23] Historically, it was believed that the bacterium Gardnerella caused bacterial vaginosis, but studies have shown that bacterial vaginosis can be caused by a variety of bacteria.[24] Women are at an increased risk of having bacterial vaginosis if they smoke cigarettes, recently used antibiotics, use an intrauterine device, have multiple sexual partners, and practice vaginal douching.[22]

Trichomoniasis, also known as "trich", is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a protozoan parasite called trichomonas vaginalis. It is the most common protozoal infection in the United States. This motile organism is not exclusive to women, but can also be found in the prostate and urethra of men. Individuals are at an increased risk of contracting trich if they have a history of sexually transmitted infections, have new or multiple sex partners, abuse IV drugs, and do not use any type of protection during sex.[25]

Cervicitis is inflammation of the cervix in individuals with a uterus, most commonly identified in those presenting as women. While some patients report pus and mucus like discharge, a majority of individuals with this condition do not present with any symptoms. Less than half of the cases of cervicitis are linked to either Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis, likely sexually transmitted. However, more than half have unknown infectious etiology.[26] Complications can result in pelvic inflammatory disease, difficulties bearing pregnancy, and endometriosis. Due to these adverse outcomes, the CDC recommends that women undergo routine nucleic acid amplification technique (NAAT) testing, which can aid in the detection of chlamydia and gonorrhea.[27]

Uterine malformations are sometimes referred to as congenital uterine anomalies.[29] A uterine malformation is an abnormality in the development of a person's uterus. This condition can result in fertility problems such as increased risk of miscarriage.[29]

Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomas, are solid growths of noncancerous smooth muscle cells that are located on the uterus. There is no cause, but risk factors such as family history, reproductive issues, hormones, and viruses are associated with fibroid growth.[30][31] Previous research suggested an association between diet and hormonal changes that has the potential to form fibroids and give them the environment to grow.[31] Despite other research contradicting this statement, further research stated that low fruit and vegetable intake as well as Vitamin D insufficiency and food contaminants have been correlated to fibroid formation and growth. In most cases, uterine fibroids are asymptomatic and therefore will not need treatment. Giuliani et. al found that asymptomatic uterine fibroids are present in 70% of individuals who were diagnosed with it, suggesting that it plays a role in epidemiologic studies underestimating its prevalence.[32] Uterine fibroids are treated if the person is experiencing symptoms such as anemia, infertility, and pelvic and back pain. These treatments aim to decrease the uterine fibroid size, prevent their growth, and improve symptoms the person deals with.[31] Treatments that are currently being used to treat uterine fibroids are medications, surgeries such as hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, and radiologic treatments such as radiofrequency ablation. Most of these treatments affect a person's ability to get pregnant.

Endometriosis is when a person has their uterine endometrial tissue that is growing somewhere besides its normal location, most commonly at the pelvic peritoneum.[33] This can also be regarded as "lesions outside of the uterus".[34] This condition has been described as "benign and estrogen dependent", therefore impacting those who produce estrogen. Other locations where this may occur, although more rare, include ovaries, pericardium, rectovaginal septum, bladder, and more. Most commonly, this can be associated with pelvic pain and infertility.[34]

Salpingitis, or salpingitis isthmica nodosa, is a disease involving inflammation within the Fallopian tubes.[35] This condition can be caused by infections, such as sexually transmitted infections. Salpingitis may be associated with fertility problems, such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy.[35]

Ectopic pregnancy, or tubal ectopic pregnancy, is a condition that occurs when a developing pregnancy implants outside of the uterus, such as in the Fallopian tubes.[36] This condition is an emergency and can be fatal to the pregnant person.[36] Treatment usually involves a salpingectomy, or the removal of the affected Fallopian tube.[36]

Oophoritis is a condition affecting one or both of the ovaries which results in inflammation. Oophoritis can be caused by an infection or by an autoimmune disease called primary ovarian insufficiency.[37]

Sexually transmitted infections can impact female reproductive health worldwide. Women experience a larger impact on their health compared to men because of how exposed and vulnerable their urogenital anatomy is. The vaginal mucosa is thin and can be easily penetrated by infectious agents. Some complications that women experience from STIs are infertility, chronic pelvic pain, increased peripartum morbidity, and increased peripartum mortality.[39]

In 2018, $15.9 billion was spent on lifetime medical cost attributable to STIs such as chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, genital herpes, syphilis, human papillomavirus (HPV), HIV, and hepatitis B. When HIV is not included in the cost, STI's in women account for about three fourths of lifetime direct medical costs annually.[40]