Signs, Symptoms and etiology of common diseases, conditions, and injuries: REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Candidiasis

Symptoms: vaginal itching, burning with urination, white vaginal discharge often called “yeast infection”

Etiology: Overgrowth of the fungal micro-organism Candida albicans

Diagnosis: Testing of vaginal discharge TX involves OTC meds

Ectopic pregnancy

Symptoms: abdominal or pelvic pain with light bleeding, severe pain and bleeding are symptoms of emergent condition

Etiology: Zygote implantation in an area other than the uterine wall, most commonly in the uterine tubes

Diagnosis: Physical, blood tests, and ultrasound TX involves termination of the pregnancy as it’s not viable and can rupture the uterine tube if allowed to develop far enough, which would require surgery

Endometriosis

Symptoms: pelvic pain with menstruation, pain with intercourse, pain with bowel movements and urination, infertility

Etiology: Occurs when pieces of endometrial tissue grow outside of the uterine lining, typically on the ovaries, intestines, or pelvic wall

Diagnosis: Pelvic examination, ultrasound, and laparoscopy TX pain medication, hormone therapy, or laparoscopic surgery

Genital herpes

Symptoms: Pain, itching, and sores in the genital area Flu-like symptoms upon initial infection

Etiology: caused by the herpes simplex virus spread through sexual contact

Diagnosis: visual exam of sores, testing of sample from the sores TX is meds typically antivirals, can prevent or shorten outbreaks as disease is incureable

Ingunial hernia

Symptoms: bulging in the groin area accompanied by an aching sensation, pain with lifting, coughing, or movement, weakness, or pressure in the groin

Etiology: A portion of the intestines protrudes thought a weak point of the abdominal wall

Diagnosis: Physical TX is surgery to repair the hernia if symptoms present. If no symptoms treatment is not indicated

Cryptorchidism

Symptoms: Undescended testicles, when they fail to drop into the normal place of the scrotum

Etiology: Some cases unknown, others may be due to structural abnormalities, or there may be a mechanical problem

Diagnosis: felt when conducting a physical TX choice is surgery only and recommended after six months of age

Testicular torsion

Symptoms: when tissues surrounding testicle are not well attached, causing the testes to twist around the spermatic chord cutting off blood flow to the testicle causing severe pain

Etiology: Some cases are unknown while some patients are born with no tissue holding testes to the scrotum

Diagnosis: found when during physical TX involves the spermatic cords needing to be untwisted to restore blood supply and patients need to see a urologist, and surgery is necessary to correct

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Symptoms: Enlargement of the prostate, common later in life, can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, UTI, or kidney problems

Etiology: Causes are unknown but are believed to be linked to hormonal changes

Diagnosis: digital rectal examination, urine test, or prostate specific antigen test TX involves transurethral resection of the prostate