8 Weighty Reasons to Make an Appointment With a Gynecologist

Annual gynecological check-ups are essential for every woman to stay healthy. However, there are a lot of conditions that require medical attention. You should understand that the sooner you will be diagnosed and treated, the easier and more effective the treatment will be. In this article, we have gathered eight weighty reasons to make an appointment with a gynecologist.

1. You have severe periods
Many women experience pain and discomfort during periods. However, some women suffer from painful cramps that make them stay in bed during the first days of periods. The point is that severe pain and cramps that occur during periods can be caused by certain underlying conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, etc. That’s why it is better to visit a gynecologist and undergo accurate treatment to ease your symptoms. 

2. You experience pelvic pain
There are a lot of conditions that can cause pelvic pain. The most common of them are ovarian cysts, ovarian torsion, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Due to the fact that some of these conditions can cause similar symptoms, it is better to avoid self-treatment. Only a professional gynecologist can define the underlying cause of your pain and perform the proper treatment. 

3. You have had unprotected sex
If you have had unprotected sex recently, it is better to visit a gynecologist to stay on the safe side. The point is that sex without a condom can result not only in an unwanted pregnancy. During sex, you can get sexually transmitted infections from your partner even if he or she doesn’t have any symptoms.  

4. You have missed periods
Even though pregnancy is the most common cause of missed periods, there are other factors that can affect your menstrual cycle. The most common of them are stress, weight changes, thyroid disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian cysts, and primary ovarian insufficiency. Lifestyle changes and medications can help regulate your menstrual cycle. 

5. You experience vaginal bleeding between periods
Light vaginal bleeding that occurs between periods is called spotting. It can occur during ovulation or implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus. However, spotting can have more dangerous cases. For example, cervical cancer can cause vaginal bleeding and pain during sex. Other possible causes of spotting include endometriosis, uterine fibroids, uterine and cervical polyps, sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. 

6 You have abnormal vaginal discharge
The female reproductive system produces a clear odorless discharge that can slightly change during ovulation or when a woman is aroused. If you have noticed that your discharge look or smell abnormal, it’s high time to visit a gynecologist. That point is that abnormal vaginal discharge can manifest various vaginal infections (STIs or bacterial vaginosis) and conditions (cancers of eth female reproductive system, cervicitis, PID).

7. You can’t get pregnant
Problems with getting pregnant are quite common for many people all over the world. When it comes to female infertility, it can be caused by various conditions. The most common of them are:
- Thyroid disorders
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Uterine fibroids or polyps
- Structural problems of the female reproductive system
- Hormonal imbalance

Even though female fertility is more discussed, you should know that men can also be infertile.

8. You experience pelvic pressure
If you often experience a feeling of pressure in the lower abdominal area, it can be a sign of a tumor or enlarged uterus. For example, you may have a big uterine fibroid or multiple fibroids that press on the uterine walls. Women with adenomyosis can also experience pelvic pressure since the inner uterine lining grows inside the uterine walls and makes the uterus bigger.