Uterine and ovarian diseases - ovarian cyst/uterine polyp/uterine fibroid/adenomyosis/endometriosis/chronic vaginitis Women undergo bodily changes through secondary development during puberty.
Beginning with menstruation, they go through physical and emotional changes, which may later lead to marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth.
However, many women experience gynecologic diseases but do not consider them serious, or they do not seek medical care, missing the right time for treatment and allowing the condition to worsen. In particular, uterine and ovarian diseases that threaten women’s health significantly reduce quality of life, and the number of cases is increasing every year.
Uterine and ovarian diseases that threaten women (1) A sac that forms on the ovary, an ovarian cyst
The ovaries contain follicles, which are pouch-shaped clusters of cells. When a follicle does not mature properly or is not released, a fluid-filled cyst can develop in the ovary. These ovarian cysts are common, and most are benign tumors. However, as a cyst grows larger, it can cause not only menstrual-related symptoms such as irregular periods and dysmenorrhea, but also urinary problems, indigestion, obesity, swelling, headaches, nausea, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
The exact causes of ovarian cysts have not been clearly identified, but they are thought to be related to abnormal hormonal disruption influenced by ovulation from hormonal stimulation, a Westernized diet, chronic fatigue, stress, and similar factors. They may disappear on their own within several months, but surgery may be needed if the tumor grows to 8cm or larger, or if there is concern about torsion or rupture. However, caution is needed because the chance of recurrence is very high, ovarian function may decline, and abdominal or pelvic pain may occur after surgery.
(2) Endometrial Polyps, which may be a cause of infertility
This is a condition in which endometrial tissue partially overgrows and protrudes into the uterus in a polyp-like shape. It is also a very common condition, to the extent that 5% of all women have small or large polyps in the uterus. However, because most polyps cause no symptoms, many women do not consider them serious. Since there are often no noticeable symptoms, they are frequently discovered incidentally during an ultrasound examination.
Although endometrial polyps are not malignant tumors, if left untreated, they can cause infertility, difficulty conceiving, and abnormal bleeding.
(3) Uterine Fibroids And Adenomyosis
Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors that occur in the uterus. Genetic abnormalities and hormonal influences are considered major causes. Most uterine fibroids are asymptomatic, but abnormal uterine bleeding, increased menstrual flow, and anemia due to longer menstrual periods may occur. Acute abdominal pain or pain during intercourse can also occur, and pelvic pain may appear due to fibroid degeneration. If a uterine fibroid presses on the bladder or ureter, it can cause frequent urination or difficulty urinating. If it presses on digestive system organs, it may cause constipation, pain with bowel movements, or digestive problems.
Uterine fibroids can change the endometrium, making it less suitable before a fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall, or can interfere with sperm reaching the egg. These factors may cause difficulty conceiving or infertility. Because fibroids can prevent an embryo from implanting successfully, they may increase the chance of miscarriage, so caution is needed. Therefore, diagnosis and testing are needed if your menstrual cycle has become irregular over the past three to four months, if there has been a sudden change in menstrual flow, or if new dysmenorrhea has developed.
Adenomyosis occurs when tissue from inside the uterus grows into the muscle of the uterus. It is a condition in which the uterine muscle becomes thicker, showing a pattern similar to the uterus enlarging during pregnancy. Adenomyosis can occur together with uterine fibroids and is characterized by worsening other symptoms such as frequent urination, urgent urination, dysmenorrhea, and heavy menstrual bleeding.
(4) Endometriosis, when there is a problem with immune function
Menstruation occurs when endometrial tissue sheds at regular intervals. Endometriosis refers to a condition in which this endometrial tissue exists in tissues outside the uterus, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or peritoneum.
During menstruation, bleeding can also occur from endometrial tissue outside the uterus, causing dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and pain during intercourse. It can also lead to adhesions with nearby organs and the formation of ovarian endometriosis, increasing the possibility of difficulty conceiving. Because endometriosis has a very high recurrence rate, the body’s immune system should be regulated so that refluxed menstrual blood can be removed well on its own.
(5) Uncomfortable, bothersome chronic vaginitis and pelvic inflammatory disease
Vaginitis is a condition that most women experience at least once, and it is sometimes called the common cold of women.
Inside a normal vagina, beneficial bacteria that maintain an acidic environment help create a healthy internal vaginal environment. The beginning may seem minor, but as symptoms recur, sticky discharge and odor, pimples, swelling, irritation inside the vagina, itching, and stinging can interfere with daily life. As it becomes chronic, symptoms worsen, exposure to various uterine conditions including pelvic inflammatory disease increases, and serious health problems may occur. Therefore, it is important to actively improve the immune environment of the uterus.
Uterine and ovarian conditions, warning signs for women's health In Korean medicine, the uterus and ovaries are important organs, and we carefully examine menstrual patterns and discharge patterns as indicators of women’s health. Menstruation is an important and clear indicator of women’s health. Uterine and ovarian conditions are not only hormonal issues, but also issues involving interactions among various organs and organ systems of the body.
In Korean medicine, we provide customized treatment according to each patient’s situation, considering how to treat uterine and ovarian conditions conservatively, and when surgery or a treatment procedure is unavoidable, how to relieve the resulting discomfort and help prevent recurrence.
At Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic, our basic goal is to warm the uterus so menstrual blood can be discharged cleanly, help the endometrium stay healthy, promote normalization of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis, and restore the function of the uterus and ovaries.