Every woman in her reproductive years faces multiple complications. Though some of the women’s health concerns do not require professional intervention, your doctor will advise you not to ignore them when the symptoms interfere with your everyday life. Bedford Park urogynecologist, Dr. Furlong, with her patient-focused team of experts, offers their patients comprehensive and personalized approaches to help them live comfortable lives. These professionals thrive in their areas of expertise and concern for their patients.   

Some of the women health issues these experts specialize in include:

Urinary tract infection

Your urinary tract comprises your kidneys and ureters in your upper tract and the bladder and urethra in your lower tract. Though upper tract infections are rare, they are severe and have adverse effects. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a microbe infection affecting your urinary tract system. The condition is common and it results from bacterial and fungal infections. However, in a rare case, UTI could result from a viral infection.

There are multiple forms of UTIs, most of which are given their names depending on their location. For instance, your doctor will tell you of pyelonephritis if the infection occurs in your kidneys and cystitis if it is in your bladder.  UTI is not a preserve for the elderly. It affects everyone, regardless of age. However, some people are more susceptible to UTIs than others.

Pregnant women have minimal chances of developing UTI. However, if they do, the infection could travel to the kidneys. During treatment, your doctor could prescribe antibiotics and pain-relieving medication if you experience aches and advise you to take lots of fluids to flush the bacteria from your body.

Urinary incontinence

Have you ever had difficulties controlling your urine flow? If so, you could be a victim of urine incontinence. Bladder control loss can be so embarrassing and frustrating. It will affect your everyday life, especially if the case is severe and you are forced to dispel your bladder’s contents before you get to the lavatory. Though aging is a contributing factor to the weakening of your sphincter muscles, the problem could result from several other causes including a weak bladder, pelvic trauma or nervous system conditions.

Before your doctor recommends a treatment option, he will evaluate your case and determine your incontinence’s root cause. If your reason is an underlying medical ailment, your doctor could recommend surgery or medication. In other instances, your doctor will advise you to do particular exercises and steps to help you have bladder control.

Pelvic pain

Most women associate pelvic pain with menstrual cramps and you are likely to assume it as a usual occurrence. The pain that commonly affects your abdomen’s lowest part could result from anything, including a sexually transmitted infection or interstitial cystitis. Though pelvic pain might not indicate a severe problem, do not hesitate to seek professional help when the pain is severe or you have unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Your doctor will recommend various treatment options to ease your pain, most of which revolve around eliminating your symptoms. Your treatment could include:

• Physical therapies
• Hormone therapies
• Prescription medications to relieve pain or inflammation

Your pelvic floor could be hurting you for various reasons, most of which are likely to clear without medication. However, seek a specialist’s help if your pain worsens and your symptoms persist despite medical interventions. For more on women’s health, schedule an appointment or call the experts at Chicago Center for Women’s Health today.  

Edward Bertrand