Reproductive Diseases
Reproductive diseases are diseases that affect the function, efficiency, and order of the reproductive system and its various organs.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
A virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite that can pass from one person to another through vaginal, oral, and anal sex. Many STIs have mild to no symptoms, so people can have an infection but not know it.
Some types include:
Bacterial Vaginosis
The presence of too much of a certain bacteria in the vagina, causing an imbalance.
- Off-white, gray, or greenish-colored vaginal discharge
- Fishy-smelling vaginal discharge
- Vaginal itching or irritation
- A burning feeling when you pee
Chlamydia
A common infection that can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, making it difficult or impossible to get pregnant later.
- Symptoms in females
- White, yellow or gray discharge from the vagina that may be smelly
- Pus in urine (pyuria)
- Increased need to pee
- Pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)
- Bleeding in between periods
- Painful periods
- Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
- Itching or burning in and around the vagina
- Dull pain in the lower part of the abdomen
- Symptoms in males
- Mucus-like or clear, watery discharge from the penis
- Pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)
- Other signs
- Pain, discomfort, bleeding or a mucus-like discharge from the buttocks.
- Sore throat
- Redness, pain and discharge in the eyes
Genital Herpes
An infection that can cause sores or breaks in the skin or lining for the mouth, vagina, and rectum, providing a way for HIV to enter the body.
- Flu-like symptoms, like fever, chills, fatigue and body aches.
- Genital itching, burning or irritation.
- Painful genital blisters or sores that break open.
- Headaches.
- Painful urination (dysuria).
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Unusual vaginal discharge or discharge from the urethra (the tube that carries pee out of the body).
Gonorrhea
Infection in the genitals, rectum, and throat.
- Symptoms in females
- Unusual vaginal discharge (white or yellow)
- Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis
- Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
- Pain when peeing (dysuria)
- Bleeding between periods
- Symptoms in males
- White, yellow or green discharge from the penis
- Pain or burning (possibly severe) when peeing
- Testicular pain and swollen testicles
- Other signs
- Throat: Itchy feeling, scratchiness, sore throat, trouble swallowing.
- Anus: Itching, discharge, pain when pooping.
Human Papillomavirus
A common virus that can cause certain cancers (cervical, vulvar, and vaginal) later in life, spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact.
- Rough, cauliflower-like warts on the genitals which may be itchy and very uncomfortable
Mycoplasma genitalium
(Mgen): An infection that can lead to complications like urethritis and cervicitis.
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)
- Leaking fluid (discharge) from the penis
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
An infection that occurs in the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries, typically caused by other STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
- Pain or tenderness in the stomach or lower abdomen (belly), the most common symptom
- Abnormal vaginal discharge, usually yellow or green with an unusual odor
- Chills or fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain during sex
- Burning when peeing
- Irregular periods or having spotting or cramping throughout the month
Syphilis
An infection that can cause serious health problems (including blindness and damage to the brain, heart, eyes, and nervous system) and progresses in stages without treatment.
- Primary syphilis (2 to 12 weeks after exposure to someone with syphilis)
- Development of a chancre on the genitals or mouth. A chancer is a smooth, hard sore that is small and usually painless. It goes away on its own in a few weeks or months, but this doesn’t mean the person doesn’t have syphilis anymore.
- Secondary syphilis (1 to 6 months after the chancre goes away)
- Appearance of a rough, bumpy rash that can cover the entire body, including the palms and soles of the feet
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Wart-like sores
- Muscle aches
- Weight loss
- Headaches
- Hair loss
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Latent syphilis (lasts up to 20 years)
- Mild flare-ups
- Damage to the heart, bones, nerves, and organs
- Late (tertiary) syphilis
- Brain damage, dementia and cognitive health problems
- Heart disease
- Movement disorders and muscle problems
- Nerve damage
- Seizures
- Vision problems, including blindness
Trichomoniasis
An infection of trichomonas vaginalis (a protozoan parasite) that can increase the risk or spreading of other STIs
- Symptoms in females
- Itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals
- Discomfort when peeing or during intercourse
- A clear, white, yellowish, or greenish vaginal discharge (i.e., thin discharge or increased volume) with a fishy smell
- Symptoms in males
- Itching or irritation inside the penis
- Soreness, swelling and redness around the head of the penis or foreskin
- Burning after peeing or ejaculating
- Needing to pee more frequently than usual
- Thin, white discharge from the penis
Other Reproductive Diseases
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common condition (affecting 1 in 10 females worldwide) in which a tissue that is similar to the lining of a woman’s uterus grows in other places where it doesn’t belong, such as the space behind her uterus, the myometrium, the ovaries, the peritoneum, and the fallopian tubes. Some less common places include the rectum, the bladder, the intestines, the diaphragm, the vagina, and the lungs.
Experts don’t know the exact cause of endometriosis, but a family history of the condition could point to an increased risk of developing it at some point. The condition most commonly impacts females between the ages of 20 and 40, though it can also happen to teenagers.
Symptoms
- Mild to intense pelvic pain
- Very painful menstrual cramps
- Abdominal pain or back pain during your period or in between periods
- Heavy bleeding during periods or spotting (light bleeding) between periods
- Pain during sex (dyspareunia)
- Infertility
- Pain when pooping or peeing
- Stomach problems like diarrhea, constipation or bloating
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance that occurs when the ovaries produce unusually high levels of androgens (hormones that trigger the development of male physical characteristics), resulting in irregular menstrual cycles, missed periods, and unpredictable ovulation. Small follicle cysts (fluid-filled sacs with immature eggs) may be visible on your ovaries on ultrasound due to lack of ovulation (anovulation). PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility and can also increase the risk of other health conditions.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, though genetics and other factors such as obesity play a role in causing the condition. Other factos include high levels of androgens (male hormones), which prevent ovaries from releasing eggs and suppress ovulation, insulin resistance, resulting in high blood sugar, and chronic low-grade inflammation.
Symptoms
- Irregular periods: Abnormal menstruation involves missing periods or not having a period at all. It may also involve heavy bleeding during periods.
- Abnormal hair growth: You may grow excess facial hair or experience heavy hair growth on your arms, chest and abdomen (hirsutism). This affects up to 70% of people with PCOS.
- Acne: PCOS can cause acne, especially on the back, chest and face. This acne may continue past teenage years and may be difficult to treat.
- Obesity: Between 40% and 80% of people with PCOS have obesity and have trouble maintaining a weight that’s healthy for them.
- Darkening of the skin: Patches of dark skin, especially in the folds of the neck, armpits, groin (between the legs) and under breasts. This is known as acanthosis nigricans.
- Cysts: Many people with PCOS have ovaries that appear larger or with many follicles (egg sac cysts) on ultrasound.
- Skin tags: Skin tags are little flaps of extra skin. They’re often found in the armpits or on the neck.
- Thinning hair: People with PCOS may lose patches of hair on their head or start to bald.
- Infertility: PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility. Not ovulating regularly or frequently can result in not being able to conceive.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are a type of tumor that form in or on the wall of the uterus. They are the most common noncancerous tumor in females and occur most often in people between 30 and 50 years old. There are four types: intramural fibroids, submucosal fibroids, subserosal fibroids, and pedunculated fibroids.
The exact cause is unknown, but experts believe estrogen and progesterone play a role as most fibroids happen in people of reproductive age.
Symptoms
- Excessive or painful bleeding during your period
- Bleeding between your periods
- A feeling of fullness in your lower belly (abdomen)/bloating
- Frequent urination (this can happen when a fibroid puts pressure on your bladder)
- Pain during sex
- Low back pain
- Constipation or feeling pressure on your rectum
- Long-term (chronic) vaginal discharge
- Inability to pee or completely empty your bladder
- Increased abdominal distention (enlargement), causing your abdomen to look pregnant
Gynecologic Cancers
Gynecologic cancer is a disease in which cells in a woman’s reproductive organs grow out of control. Each type is unique, with different signs and symptoms, different risk factors, and different prevention strategies.
Some types include:
Cervical cancer
Begins in the cervix, which is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (aka the womb), and most often caused by HPV (human papillomavirus)
Ovarian cancer
Begins in the ovaries, which are located on each side of the uterus. Some ovarian cancers can also begin in the fallopian tubes or peritoneum.
Uterine cancer
Begins in the uterus, the pear-shaped organ in a woman’s pelvis where the baby grows when she is pregnant.
Vaginal cancer
A rare form of cancer that begins in the vagina, which is the hollow, tube-like channel between the bottom of the uterus and the outside of the body.
Vulvar cancer
A rare form of cancer that begins in the vulva, the outer part of the female genital organs.
Fallopian tube cancer
The rarest form of gynecologic cancers, affects the duct (tube) that carries eggs from your ovaries to your uterus and may even lead to ovarian cancer
Infertility
Infertility is a common condition wherein people’s ability to conceive is greatly hampered or even prevented. Some signs include late or absent periods, or low or no sperm counts. For people with female sex organs, these can be caused by problems in the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovulation, and egg count and its quality, often caused by complications such as inflammation, polyps, abrasions, fibroids, among others.
For people with male sex organs, these can be caused by sperm problems such as low or non-existent sperm or disfigured sperm, genetic disorders, hormonal disorders and other certain medical conditions, infections, and testicular swelling or trauma.
Factors include age, hormonal issues, being underweight, overweight, or obese, exposure to radiation including cancer treatment, poor diet and exercise, smoking and the use of drugs, and various disorders and diseases, among others.
Infertility can cause stigma among family, relatives, and friends, with negative social, psychological, and economic consequences, and couples who intend to have children may experience depression, stress, and changes in the relationship. The Catholic viewpoint on fertility is that it is not inherently evil, with alternatives such as adoption being recommended to infertile couples, while also not recommending procedures like in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, and artificial insemination.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/sti/about/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/bacterial-vaginosis/about/index.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3963-bacterial-vaginosis
https://www.cdc.gov/chlamydia/about/index.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4023-chlamydia
https://www.cdc.gov/herpes/about/index.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/genital-herpes
https://www.cdc.gov/gonorrhea/about/index.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4217-gonorrhea
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11901-hpv-human-papilloma-virus
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/mycoplasma-genitalium
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9129-pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid
https://www.cdc.gov/syphilis/about/index.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4622-syphilis
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trichomoniasis/
https://www.cdc.gov/trichomoniasis/about/index.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10857-endometriosis
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8316-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9130-uterine-fibroids
https://www.cdc.gov/gynecologic-cancer/about/index.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12216-cervical-cancer
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4447-ovarian-cancer
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16409-uterine-cancer
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15579-vaginal-cancer
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6220-vulvar-cancer
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21540-fallopian-tube-cance
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16083-infertility
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17201-male-infertility
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17774-female-infertility
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14633-abnormal-menstruation-periods