Gynecological Problems That Challenge Emotional Well-Being

The female genitals are changing throughout life, especially during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. These changes usually lead to gynecological problems that also affect the emotional well-being of women. Next, we review the main disorders and how to prevent them in order to enjoy positive sexual health.

The vaginal atrophy, dryness, vaginal laxity, urinary incontinence, the decrease in pelvic organs (uterus and vagina) or constant itching in the genital area are some of the gynecological problems most commonly affecting a large number of women of all ages.

Many of the women who suffer from these genital disorders feel embarrassed to talk about them and even feel misunderstood. This brings with it pictures of emotional instability, depression or loss of self-esteem and even breakups.

According to Dr. Sadhana Kala, gynecologist in Delhi, women are getting more aware of these problems.

Partly because women go more to consultation and also because there are more gynecological women, she points out, "which helps women open up to tell about problems they didn't feel supported before."

Until now, gynecologists used to focus on issues more related to pregnancy control and childbirth. However, “we did not realize that the genitals are changing throughout life. Until recently we did not know.”

“More than half of the women who go to the clinic to perform their gynecological examination after childbirth, do not count that they have frequent urine losses or vaginal dryness, which causes pain in their sexual relations or lack of pleasure or sexual desire”.

When do the changes arrive?

Gynecological problems and discomforts in sexual intercourse can come with pregnancy, childbirth, continuous activities that produce abdominal overexertion (such as running, doing abdominal crunches, steps, etc.), age or menopause.

Commonly, genital disorders tend to appear in the fourth decade of life. That is when oestradiol levels begin to drop in women. The alteration of this female hormone causes symptoms such as dryness or lack of lubrication in sexual intercourse. The change in metabolism also plays an important role at this stage.

Like almost all parts of the body, the woman's genitals will change throughout her life, however, "this is information that is practically not explained to them." The pregnancy and childbirth "are key moments in the life of a woman suffer pelvic floor were some very important changes."

Also, the type of delivery influences. "If it has been instrumented or not, depending on the weight of the baby, the hours of expulsion, etc ... All these influences that we see more or less damage to the pelvic floor."

“Many women assume that their sex life will not be the same after delivery. They believe that it is the price they have to pay for being mothers and that, they bear it many times with great frustration.”

Therefore, a gynecologist in South Delhi warns of the mistake that not long ago was committed by "trying to reassure them, simply telling them that their condition would improve and that it is only a matter of time."

How to prevent gynecological problems

The following table summarizes the five preventive strategies to avoid genital disorders and maintain optimal sexual health:

Having healthy sexuality and not avoiding relationships

Sexual intercourse is essential to keep the genitals healthy and feel good. "Maintaining sex contributes to genital health," she says.

Many patients who spend long periods of sexual inactivity encounter tremendous discomfort when they try to resume their sexual intercourse.

Genital hydration

Vaginal dryness causes pain and the inability to have sex. Depending on the severity, there are different solutions:

• Early pelvic floor rehabilitation exercises
• Genital laser (to tighten and rejuvenate vaginal tissue)
• Creams with oestradiol (to improve tissue quality of both the vulva and the vagina)
• Genital hyaluronic acid infiltrations

Perform pelvic floor exercises

The purpose is to prevent tissue laxity, bladder, uterus or rectum descent, hypermobility of the urethra, among other problems related to the loss of urine.

"It is very important to emphasize that these exercises should be guided by a specialist physiotherapist" and thus, avoid possible complications in cases of patients with certain pathologies.

Periodically go to the gynecologist

The best gynecologist in Delhi should be visited at least once a year or at any symptom or alarm signal. "Any doubt should always be consulted without fear of a specialist," she says.

Be alert to the changes in our body

Paying attention to any symptoms or changes observed in the body is essential. The moments of most alterations in a woman's life will be during pregnancy, postpartum and menopause.

The speed with which they begin to take care of the genital organs will stop the onset of gynecological problems. "For example, during the first three months of postpartum, thanks to the hormonal alteration, the body is very receptive to respond to treatment and completely recover abdominal and pelvic muscles, visceral descents or hyperreactive behaviors."