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Gynecologic Conditions & Symptoms

Gynecologic conditions affecting the female reproductive system include heavy periods, infertility, sexual dysfunction, menopause, and other issues. They can impact your daily life and future plans, but at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, there's hope for healing. 

Our providers successfully treat common and complex gynecologic disorders and symptoms. You receive personalized therapies from a team who cares about you as an individual. Even if other treatments have not been successful, we can help you determine a path forward.

Conditions and symptoms we treat

We excel in diagnosing, treating, and managing: 

  • Female sexual dysfunction concerns include conditions affecting the ability to have satisfying sex. These issues may be physical or emotional. Sometimes they are a symptom of another gynecologic disorder, like menopause or uterine fibroids. 

    Female sexual health issues we treat include: 

    • Low libido, when a person has low sexual drive
    • Painful sex (dyspareunia), pelvic discomfort that happens during or after sexual intercourse
    • Psychological issues, such as depression and anxiety, that impact sexual function 
    • Vaginal atrophy, physical changes to the vagina such as tissue thinning and inflammation
    • Vaginal dryness, lack of natural moisture that often occurs before or during menopause
  • If you are experiencing infertility, an evaluation from our team may pinpoint the source. You receive fertility testing and treatments from a team you can trust. For more advanced concerns, we provide referrals to community infertility specialists. 

    Issues we assess include: 

    • Implantation failure, a fertilized egg (embryo) does not attach to the uterus lining
    • Isthmocele, C-section incision that doesn't heal as expected
    • Ovulation disorders, a group of conditions affecting the ovaries' ability to release a mature egg
    • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), unusually high hormone levels that cause cysts and other problems affecting ovulation
    • Primary ovarian insufficiency, unexpected slowing of ovary function before menopause 
    • Primary infertility, difficulty conceiving in a person who has never been pregnant
    • Secondary infertility, difficulty conceiving in a person who has had a previous pregnancy  
    • Structural problems, scarring, blockages, or other issues affecting fallopian tubes or uterus function
  • Menstruation problems can be painful and disruptive to your daily routine but are often treatable. We pinpoint the source of your symptoms and deliver therapies that help you get relief.

    Types of menstrual (period) health issues we diagnose and treat include: 

    • Irregular periods (oligomenorrhea) that occur more than 35 days apart
    • Long periods (menorrhagia) that cause bleeding for more than seven days
    • Metrorrhagia, uterine bleeding not associated with menstruation
    • No period (amenorrhea), missing one or more periods
    • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), irritability, tender breasts, and food cravings that occur days before a period
    • Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), unusually severe PMS symptoms 
    • Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) often due to severe cramps
  • Reproductive health changes, including menopause and perimenopause, occur between the ages of 40 and 65. These conditions cause symptoms like hot flashes, sexual dysfunction and mood changes. There's no cure, but treatment can lessen their impact on your daily life.

    • Menopause occurs when you haven't had any menstrual cycles for 12 months.
    • Perimenopause happens before menopause when female hormone (estrogen) levels fluctuate. This phase can last three to five years.
  • STIs are infections that spread through sexual contact. Any person can get an STI. If you think you have one, there's no reason to feel shame or embarrassment. We treat you with dignity and respect, making it easier to receive the services that can help you feel better.

    We provide testing, treatment and education about STIs, including: 

    • Chlamydia, a bacterial infection and one of the more common STIs
    • Genital herpes, a virus that leads to pimples or blister-like growths in some people
    • Gonorrhea, a bacterial infection that sometimes has no symptoms 
    • Hepatitis B, a virus that affects the liver
    • Human papillomavirus (HPV), an STI that causes genital warts and can lead to cervical, anal, or throat cancer
  • These conditions affect the health and function of the uterus. Some don't cause symptoms, while others cause discomfort, heavy bleeding, and fertility issues. There are many treatments, including surgical and nonsurgical options.

    Uterine disorders we treat include: 

    • Adenomyosis, tissue lining the uterus (endometrium) develops in the organ's muscular layers
    • Asherman's syndrome, a rare condition that causes intrauterine scarring, infertility and irregular or absent menstrual cycles 
    • Endometrial hyperplasia, uterine tissue thickening and cell changes that can become cancerous
    • Endometriosistissue similar to the uterine lining develops outside of the uterus
    • Uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths that form within the uterine wall
    • Uterine polyps, growths that are typically noncancerous and develop on the lining of the uterus

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Find out more about our gynecology services in the Puget Sound area or make an appointment.