GynoFiles

The muscle knots that comprise a fibroid uterus can be microscopically sized or very large. The total weight of a woman's uterus in her fertile years is typically about 60-70 grams. This uterus was 768 grams, and shown here are the fibroids removed at the time of a laparoscopic hysterectomy. The largest uteri removed with laparoscopic are about 7 lbs or around 3200 grams. The pregnant uterus can swell to up to 1000 grams to accommodate it's contents! The fibroids themselves have a solid feel to them, almost as rigid as a rubber ball.  For the most part the pressure the enlarged uterus can produce is uncomfortable, although some women report significant pain. The pressure of such a large uterus such as this one might produce actual deformities of neighboring organs or of the cervix itself. Some women have enlarged uterus due to the lining glands getting entrapped within the muscle of the uterine wall, which is a condition called adenomyosis, and this can co-exist with the fibro...

In a medical review today, published on line ahead of print, t he treatments of for the least known aspect of endometriosis, the condition adenomyosis, is reviewed . Adenomyosis, a name of Greek origin , is a condition whereby the glands of the uterus become trapped deep within the wall of the uterus and produce symptoms. The symptoms of adenomyosis can be variable, but most likely will at least cause heavy painful periods. The diagnosis of adenomyosis used to just be made at hysterectomy, but we have gradually recognized that ultrasound and MRI examinations can determine whether a woman has adenomyosis as the cause of her heavy periods. The condition of adenomyosis could be asymptomatic, and if a woman has no symptoms she does not need treatment. But in a large percentage of cases adenomosis causes the uterus to be enlarged. The uterine enlargement can be from the endometrial glands filling the walls, but also due to blood within those glands. Many treatments have been tried, includi...

If you have what you think is a painful pimple or gentile area sore you may in fact have a herpes out break. Classic cases of blisters or ulcers are fairly clear cut and your gyno would likely be able to diagnose the cause by visualization. Confirmation of active herpes simplex infection (HSV)  is best, particularly for first outbreaks, done with medical testing. If there is a lesion then a culture test should be done, if not, then blood testing is indicated.Some people either never get the obvious blister cluster or just get such mild symptoms that they don't come to the gyno with an active infection to culture. But even with a cluster of herpes blisters it may not be an easy condition to confirm by culture tests as the virus is difficult to grow. Since the herpes virus is difficult to culture and in fact false negative culture results are common. So you may need a blood test to see if you have herpes. The blood test is for HSV-2 IgG, and you can get tested for HSV-1 IgG if you s...

In women whom have painful periods adenomyosis, a condition of the uterus, is a possible diagnosis. It’s less likely to just be adenomyosis if the patient complains of chronic pelvic pain, more than pain with the periods which is also called dysmenorrhea. Adenomyosis doesn’t cause ovarian cysts and should have no relationship to pains that occurred with a current or prior ovarian cyst. Adenomyosis, a condition of glands from the uterine lining being entrapped within the wall of the uterus, generally by itself, if just a few glands, in a normal size uterus, the condition causes minimal symptoms. But a common finding in women with adenomyosis is an enlarged uterus. Almost 90% of the cases of adenomyosis occur in women who have had children, and the first symptoms usually occur when a woman is 40 or 50 years old. When the uterus is enlarged it is more common for the woman to have uterine prolapse. Uterine prolapse lifetime risk is about 1/11; but with adenomyosis the risk of having...

Adenomyosis is a word from the Greeks. Aden, meaning gland or glandular, and myo meaning muscle. here is an aging, if you will, of the uterus that occurs that can distort the uterus. This condition is very common, in fact it may occur in at least 60% of all women as they age,and at least a third of the women with this condition will have any symptoms at all. In women with painful periods adenomyosis is always a possible diagnosis. It’s less likely to just be adenomyosis if women also have chronic pelvic pain. Adenomyosis, like other gynecologic conditions, can be responsive to hormones, but it's not specifically due to hormones being distorted, and it wouldn't have relationships to ovarian conditions, for instance, adenomyosis has no relationship we know of to ovarian cysts and should have no relationship to pains that occurred with a current or prior ovarian cyst. Adenomyosis, a condition of glands from the uterine lining being entrapped within the wall of the uterus, gene...