How pain prevents women from enjoying life

Women are used to ignoring pain, such as during menstruation or sexual intercourse. Only occasionally do we complain about our inconvenience to our mother or girlfriend, but we do not go to the doctor, fearing that we will not be taken seriously. And these fears are not unfounded.

Why are women afraid to go to the gynecologist?

1. Devaluation of female pain

Doctors of all specialties tend to underestimate women’s pain and, conversely, overestimate men’s. They are based on stereotypes that women exaggerate their suffering, while men hide it. All this makes it difficult for women to access painkillers and undermines trust in doctors, an international group of psychologists found out.¹.

This is why many women put off going to the gynecologist, play down their problems during the appointment, or completely ignore them. As a result, serious diseases are diagnosed only in the later stages, which greatly complicates the treatment.

For example, according to statistics, pain during menstruation – dysmenorrhea – is experienced by up to 91 percent of women of childbearing age.². At the same time, a third of them experience severe pain, so the gynecologist may not attach importance to this problem. Nevertheless, even dysmenorrhea is a condition that can and should be treated. For example, with the help of antiprostaglandin drugs or combined oral contraceptives (although only a specialist should select medications).

2. Unethical behavior of doctors

Every woman wants to find a gynecologist who will treat her with care, not judge her sex life (or lack of it) and answer all the questions that arise. However, many doctors are not yet used to communicating with patients on an equal footing and devoting enough time to their complaints.

At the gynecologist’s appointment, a woman feels especially vulnerable, and if the doctor does not inform the patient about the intricacies of examinations and acts too rudely, then the patient will not want to come for further examinations.

Fortunately, such treatment of patients is not universally considered the norm. For example, the doctors of the Austrian clinic Döbling Group PremiQaMed always look for an individual approach to each patient and create a comfortable and friendly atmosphere during the appointment.

The most common gynecological diseases

1. Uterine fibroids

Myoma is a benign tumor of the muscular tissue of the uterus. Symptoms of the disease: heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, pressure in the lower abdomen, sometimes infertility. Fibroids occur in 30% of women during their lifetime.

Doctors prescribe treatment for uterine fibroids if the pain affects the quality of life or the location and rate of growth of the tumor threaten the patient’s health. They may prescribe medication or perform organ-sparing surgery, depending on the situation.

Vienna Clinics of the PremiQaMed Döbling Group and Goldenes Kreuz offer minimally invasive surgical techniques that are performed with tissue preservation and minor surgical wounds. Moreover, the doctor decides on the choice of operating technique together with the patient.

What options do Austrian specialists offer?

• Laparoscopic myomectomy performed if the fibroid is located on the outside of the uterus. Doctors insert optical and surgical instruments into the abdominal cavity through four small incisions. The small size of postoperative wounds guarantees a minimum of complications and a quick recovery.
• Hysteroscopic myomectomy preferred for fibroids located inside the uterus. Doctors perform the operation on the patient vaginally using hysteroscopy – intrauterine intervention.
• Embolization used in the treatment of multiple, hard-to-reach fibroids. Doctors insert a very thin catheter into the patient’s common femoral artery and then cut off the blood supply in the vessels that feed the fibroids with the help of microparticles.

All these techniques are designed to preserve healthy tissue and minimize the number of surgical wounds and sutures. Operations do not have a negative impact on a woman’s fertility – on the contrary, many of the patients can become pregnant only after getting rid of fibroids.

2. Endometriosis

Endometriosis is the growth of cells similar to the endometrium (inner layer of the uterus) outside of it. In most cases, endometriosis develops in women of reproductive age. According to the World Health Organization, the disease affects about 10 percent of women worldwide.

The endometrium is shed and expelled from the uterus along with the blood every month if the egg is not fertilized. Sometimes menstrual blood is thrown into the abdominal cavity through the fallopian tubes, where endometrial cells graft and begin to grow.

In this tissue, the same changes occur as in the endometrium, which is manifested by monthly bleeding. As a result, the surrounding tissues become inflamed and cause severe bleeding, pain during menstruation, intercourse, bowel and bladder emptying, and infertility. Unfortunately, due to the variety of symptoms, it takes a very long time from the onset of endometriosis to its diagnosis.

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out using laparoscopy – tissue sampling through a small incision in the abdomen. Treatment begins with non-invasive methods – taking painkillers and hormonal drugs. Then surgical treatment can be prescribed – complete removal of endometriosis foci using various surgical methods.

3. Ectopia of the cervix

Ectopia of the cervix – a violation of the integrity or change in the epithelial cover of the vaginal part of the cervix. The cylindrical epithelium, which is normally present only in the cervix, moves into its vaginal part. Outwardly, the ectopia of the cervix looks like a red spot around the external opening of the canal.

This structural feature of the cervix occurs in about half of women of reproductive age. Symptoms of the pathology are soreness and sometimes spotting during intercourse, itching and discharge when an infection is attached.

Asymptomatic ectopia does not require treatment. However, to exclude malignant processes, it is better to conduct a colposcopy – an examination of the vagina with the help of special reagents and test samples. If pathologies are detected, doctors may insist on surgical methods of treatment.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF WOMEN’S HEALTH?

• Regularly undergo preventive examinations with a gynecologist you trust and take the necessary tests.
• Practice relaxation exercises and learn to localize pleasant and unpleasant sensations in the body.
• Train intimate muscles.
• Engage in physical exercise.
• Eat right, keeping the balance of vitamins and trace elements.

¹ Lanlan Zhang, Elizabeth A. Reynolds Losin, Yoni K. Ashar and others. «Gender Biases in Estimation of Others’ Pain» The Journal of Pain. Volume 22, Issue 9, 2021

² Ju H, Jones M, Mishra G. «The prevalence and risk factors of dysmenorrhea». Epidemiologic Reviews, 2014