What Is Infertility In Females?I nfertility in females is characterized by failure to conceive after one year of intercourse.
This condition can be frustrating and emotionally upsetting to the parents trying to conceive.
What Is Epilepsy?E pilepsy is a dysfunctional disorder of the brain characterized by recurring seizures also called convulsions.
Q: What happens in a seizure?
A: During a seizure abnormal electrical discharges occur within the brain. Not all seizures have the same intensity or involvement.
Seizures can be generalized, partial or unclassified.
What Is Early Menopause?E arly menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation in females before the age of 40 years characterized by vasomotor instability (hot flashes/cold episodes), psychologic and emotional symptoms and profound changes in the lower genital tract.
The most severe forms present with absent pubertal development and primary amenorrhea termed primary ovarian failure (50% of these cases due to ovarian dysgenesis), whereas forms with post-pubertal onset are termed secondary ovarian failure and are characterized by disappearance of menstrual cycles associated with premature follicular depletion.1
Q: What is ovarian failure?
A: Ovarian failure is dysfunction of the ovaries to continue developing its eggs until about 51 years of age and to produce female hormones which results in infertility. Ovarian failure is diagnosed by this criteria:
The hypothalamus located in the brain is continually monitoring blood levels of estrogen so that when levels are low, it stimulates the nearby pituitary, or master gland, to secrete follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH in turn stimulates the ovaries in females to produce estrogen. In ovarian failure, the ovaries do not respond to FSH.
Some causes in the general population of women include cigarette smoking, viral infections, surgical removal of ovaries, chemotherapy, and autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease, Addison’s disease, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia.
Who is Affected in the General Population? This heterogeneous disorder affects approximately 1% of women.2
What Is Late Menarche?L ate menarche is a menstrual disorder in girls characterized by abnormal delay of menstruation, with or without breast development. The menarche is the first menstrual period or the start of menstruation. It should start within 3 years of breast development which usually starts after 10 years of age.
Q: How does the delay of menstruation differ from the normal start?
A: In temperate climates such as the United States, the menarche starts at an average of thirteen and one half years or between 10 to 15 years. Conversely, late menarche means the start is abnormally delayed past 15 years.
Causes of late menarche include stress, excessive physical activity such as athletic competitions, chronic diseases such as anemia, autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, diabetes and thyroiditis, and nutritional deficiencies.
What Is PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)?P remenstrual syndrome is a menstrual disorder that occurs regularly during the last week of the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and starts to subside a few days before menstruation begins and is absent the week following menstruation. It is characterized by distressing mental, emotional, and physical features.
Symptoms must occur most months in the year previous to diagnosis. Currently, the American Psychiatric Association terms this disorder “premenstrual dysphoric disorder” (PMDD).
What Is Dysmenorrhea?D ysmenorrhea is a distressing menstrual disorder in females characterized by cramping and spasmodic pain that occurs regularly just before or during menstruation.
What Is Primary Dyspareunia (Painful Intercourse)?D yspareunia is a distressing female genital disorder characterized by pain during or after coitus involving the labia, vagina or pelvis.
There are two types of dyspareunia: primary which affect the vagina itself in the abscence of pelvic pathology and secondary which involves problems in the pelvis other than the vagina.1
Q: How common is dypareunia?
A: Dyspareunia is the most common cause of pelvic pain in women.2
I nflammatory vaginitis, also called desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, is a female genital disorder characterized by non-infectious tissue inflammation of the vagina (birth canal).
Inflammatory vaginitis presents in females of any age including girls with a history of discomfort, irritation, and in those who are sexually active, painful sexual intercourse. Patients may also report an increased vaginal discharge.
Q: How do the tissues appear?
A: Examination of the vulva is normal, but erythematous regions on the vaginal walls are evident with increased vaginal secretion. This secretion is high in polymorphonuclear leukocytes, with an increased number of immature squamous epithelial cells. Repeated cultures are negative for bacteria, viruses and yeast.1
H ypogonadism in males is a distressing reproductive disorder characterized by inadequate production of male andogen hormones and/or spermatozoa by the testes.
Q: How do andogens affect reproductive health?
A: Male androgen hormones control the development and maintenance of male sex organs and masculine secondary sex characteristics and are required for health, especially bone health.
Testosterone is the major andogen hormone. While most of this steroid is produced by the testes, some is also produced by the adrenal glands. In hypogonadism, the testosterone level in blood is 300 ng/dl or below.
Hypogonadism in men 45 years or older is significantly higher in men with hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, obesity, prostate disease, and asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.1
Interestingly, a 2014 study by Shortridge et al. on experiences and treatment of men with hypogonadism seeking care found that some symptoms continued despite treatment, and therapy was discontinued at a high rate, which men generally attributed to cost and perceptions of efficacy.2 Compare this to the reversal seen in celiac men on gluten free diet.
Who is Affected in the General Population? Prevalence rate of hypogonadism was 38.7% in a study of 2162 primary care patients; 836 were hypogonadal, with 80 receiving testosterone.1
What Is Impotence?I mpotence is an erectile dysfunction disorder in males characterized by the distressing inability to achieve or maintain an erection satisfactory for coitus.