GYNECOLOGIC CAUSES OF CYCLIC CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN

Gynecology causes of Cyclic Chronic Pelvic Pain

30 Mar 2021 Gynaecology

by Dr. Amal Badi and Dr. Koster

Cyclic pelvic pain occurs monthly and is associated with menstrual periods, whereas chronic pelvic pain lasts for at least six months. Although chronic pelvic pain can be caused by a variety of different organ disorders (gastrointestinal, urologic, musculoskeletal and neurological systems), with approximately 20% of women suffering from chronic pelvic pain, the cause is gynaecologic and related to menstrual cycles. Some of the gynaecologic causes of pelvic pain include: Uterine Fibroids, Pelvic Inflammatory disease and Pelvic adhesions.

Conditions

The cyclic pain is usually caused by conditions called Endometriosis and Adenomyosis. Women who are affected with Endometriosis often have Adenomyosis and vice versa.
Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue (the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus) is present outside of the uterus, most commonly: the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue covering the pelvic organs behind and around the uterus. Some women with endometriosis have no symptoms, while others experience marked pain and may have problems with fertility.
Adenomyosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue grows inside the uterine walls. It causes an enlarged uterus and heavy, painful periods. With endometriosis, the endometrial-like tissue acts as endometrial tissue would, it bleeds with each menstrual cycle. But because this tissue has no way to exit the body, it becomes trapped, causing endometriosis nodules. When it involves the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas will form. If the nodules occur outside the uterus, the surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions (when pelvic tissues and organs stick to each other).

Symptoms

Women suffering from Endometriosis and/or Adenomyosis can have pain during menstruation, urination, deification and intimate relations, whilst some will have difficulty getting pregnant. Women with Adenomyosis may have long and heavy menstruations that can lead to anaemia in severe cases.
Signs and symptoms of endometriosis may temporarily improve with pregnancy and may disappear completely with menopause, except when taking oestrogen.

Causes

Although there are different possible explanations, the exact cause of endometriosis is not certain. If one or more relatives (mother, aunt or sister) have endometriosis, you may be at a higher risk of having it too.

Diagnosis

Sometimes, it is difficult to detect the specific cause of chronic pelvic pain because a number of different conditions can cause it, but if the pain is cyclic, it is mostly caused by either Endometriosis or Adenomyosis, so it is very important for you to give a good description of your symptoms and for your doctor to ask about the location of your pain during a pelvic examination. Often, it’s not possible to feel small areas of endometriosis during examination.

Vaginal ultrasound is used to get the best view of the reproductive organs. A standard ultrasound won’t definitively tell your doctor whether you have endometriosis and only doctors with highly specific training would be able to identify the appearance of Adenomyosis and the location and size of Endometriosis nodules.
MRI is another modality that can help with surgical planning, giving your surgeon detailed information about the location and size of endometrial implants.

Laparoscopy was the gold standard to diagnose Endometriosis, but not anymore, since a vaginal ultrasound in the hand of well-trained doctors will identify the disease. Today, Laparoscopy is used to treat endometriosis and often, with proper surgical planning, your surgeon can fully treat endometriosis during the laparoscopy so that you need only one surgery.

Treatment
Treatments depend on specific symptoms and often includes lifestyle changes, medications and surgery.
For more information, please visit www.kosterclinic.com, email info@kosterclinic.com or give the super-friendly team a call on 04 388 1887.

Information about PCOS by Dr. Amal Badi, one of the best gynecologists in Dubai.

What you Need to Know about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

30 Mar 2021 Gynaecology, Health Care

Information about PCOS by Dr. Amal Badi, one of the best gynecologists in Dubai.

PCOS Nutrition Tips by Jordana Smith

PCOS is a lifelong, genetic condition affecting 1 in 10 women or around 10% of women and it may affect their overall health and appearance.

Causes:

1- Genetic. You can inherit the risk for PCOS and family members of women who have PCOS are also at higher risk for developing the same metabolic abnormalities.
2- Insulin resistance: It means that the glucose cannot enter the cells, and therefore your pancreas will produce more insulin, resulting in higher levels of insulin in the blood. This can have several negative effects including weight gain, difficulty losing weight and even affecting your ovaries, leading to lack of ovulation and higher levels of male hormones, called androgens
3- Higher levels of androgens interfere with or even cause anovulation (lack of normal ovulation)
4- Anovulation will cause irregular periods, absence of menstrual cycles, infertility and small cysts in the ovary

Symptoms:

  • Most women will have irregular or late and heavy menstruations
  • Difficulty to get pregnant
  • Acne
  • Increased hair growth mainly in the face (and other male distribution areas)
  • Hair thinning with male pattern hair loss
  • Weight gain or difficulty to lose weight, but there are lean women who have PCOS

Diagnosis:

There is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Medical history to know your symptoms and a proper medical examination plus ultrasound and some hormone level blood tests are used in combination to diagnose PCOS

How is it treated – Management

Lifestyle modifications are first line treatment and include the following:
A. Diet
B. Exercise
C. Weight loss

Medications:

Oral Contraceptive agents
Antiandrogens (Spironolactone, finasteride)
Hypoglycemic agents (Metformine)
Clomiphene citrate if you wish for pregnancy

You and your doctor will work on a treatment plan based on your symptoms and needs. The treatment will depend on what the symptom are, for example in case of infertility, you need to stimulate ovulations.
For irregular periods you can use contraceptive pills or other hormones to regulate it.
If you want to loose weight, diet and exercise can not be stressed enough but addition of metformin and hormonal therapy may help.

In all cases, hypoglycemic diet and being active are very important factors in controlling PCOS symptoms.

Long term effect:

  • Insulin resistance can lead to diabetes and weight gain
  • Anovulation can cause cessation of menstruation and increase in the thickness of the endometrium which increase risk of endometrial cancer
  • Women with PCOS are at higher risk for high blood pressure, stiff and clogged arteries, high levels of heart-damaging LDL cholesterol and low levels of protective HDL
  • Anxiety, distress, depression and eating disorders are more common in women with PCOS
Pre-Birth Acupuncture Package January Offer

Pre-Birth Acupuncture Package January Offer

1 Jan 2019 Lifestyle

This January Koster Clinic is offering a special promotion for the launch of it’s Pre-Birth Acupuncture Package.

4 pre-birth hour long acupuncture treatments from 37 weeks
1 two and a half hour Group Acupressure in labour class
1 Post-delivery therapeutic mother-warming treatment

Total Cost : Dhs1600 (Usually Dhs 2,400)

Acupuncture Pre-birth treatments

Acupuncture is one of the least invasive choices of drug free treatment offered to pregnant women. It is especially recommended from 37 weeks of pregnancy to help mothers prepare for labour. Studies have shown that women receiving pre-birth acupuncture treatments consistently experienced efficient labours, reduction in the length of labour and medical intervention. One such study in 2004 on 169 New Zealand women demonstrated a 43% reduction in the number of inductions for first-time mothers; 31% reduction in epidural rates; 32% reduction in emergency caesarean delivery; and a 9% increase in normal vaginal birth.

What if I go into labour and don’t use all my treatments?

Then you can use them in the post-natal period to support recovery and breast-feeding.

Acupressure In Labour

Acupressure is a safe, simple and effective non-invasive support for labour. It relieves pain, calms the mind whilst enabling the body to function as nature intended, helping labour and birth progress smoothly. It PROMOTES partner involvement and intimacy, and is easy to learn. Pressure is simply applied to specific points on the body using the  fingers, palms, or elbows.

What can Acupressure be used for?

  • Labour Induction
  • Pain Relief
  • Help babies descend and engage
  • Efface and dilate the mother’s cervix general well-being and relaxation
  • Alleviate nausea & combat fatigue

About Martine

As the mother of two daughters, Martine has personally experienced the benefits of acupuncture and acupressure in labour and is keen to share her knowledge with other couples to help ease their journey into parenthood. Trained in the UK, she has practiced acupuncture for over 20 years and feels extremely fortunate to be working with this ancient healing system. She is also a certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher.

For more information call us on 04-388 1887 Email: m.nates@kosterclinic.com

January offer! The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR)

January offer! The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR)

18 Dec 2018 Lifestyle

Enrol on this  January’s  8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program orientation now and receive a 30% discount off the cost of the course when you register. Give yourself a gift for this 2019!

What is MBSR?

The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) is an 8-week course created by Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn.

It incorporates formal meditation, yoga and strategies to reduce stress, pain and create a more peaceful life.

With more than two decades of published research, MBSR has demonstrated that regular mindfulness meditation practice brings about measurable lasting changes in health and brain function associated with memory, focus, empathy and stress.

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