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Many ovarian cysts are too small to cause symptoms; however, if the cyst is large you may notice:
- Bloating or abdominal swelling
- Abdominal pain or pressure, typically on the side where the cyst is
- The pain may be dull and may come and go
Several factors can predispose certain women to ovarian cysts. These factors include:
- Pregnancy
- Hormonal issues
- Pelvic infections
- Endometriosis
It’s always a good idea to see your OBGYN as soon as possible if you are experiencing intense or severe abdominal pain, especially if it’s accompanied by a fever. Severe abdominal pain requires immediate medical attention.
An ovarian cyst will typically go away on its own without treatment; however, the size of the cyst and the symptoms you are experiencing may determine whether or not you should have surgery to remove the cyst. Your doctor will continue to monitor the cyst through regular ultrasounds every few weeks or months to see if the cyst has gone away. Recurring or very large cysts often require surgery.

What causes pelvic floor dysfunction?
Some many injuries and conditions can weaken the muscles of the pelvis or even tear the tissue. Common causes of pelvic floor dysfunction include,
- Nerve damage
- Pregnancy and childbirth (the most common causes)
- Traumatic injury to the pelvic (e.g., bad fall; car accident)
- Obesity
- Pelvic surgery
- Genetics
If you are dealing with pelvic floor dysfunction you may experience these common symptoms,
- Painful urination
- An increased urge to urinate
- Urinary or stool leakage
- Constipation
- Pain in the pelvic floor including the rectum and genitals
- Pain with intercourse
- Lower back pain
- Muscle spasms in the pelvis
- Pelvic pressure
Just as someone might get physical therapy to restore function and strength into a shoulder injury or bad knee, your OBGYN may recommend that women who have pelvic floor dysfunction undergo pelvic floor physical therapy. These one-on-one physical therapy sessions are designed to help alleviate the symptoms of dysfunction while also training and re-strengthening weakened pelvic floor muscles.
Your OBGYN will first need to perform a physical exam to assess the muscle. This assessment will help us create a customized plan of action to alleviate your symptoms. Pelvic floor physical therapy may include,
- Stretching and strengthening exercises
- Coordination exercises
- Relaxation techniques
- Biofeedback
- Heat or ice therapy
- Electrical stimulation

Bleeding During Your First Trimester
Your body is going through a ton of changes, especially during the first trimester. So it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that as many as 30 percent of women experience some sort of spotting or light bleeding during early pregnancy. Some of the causes of light bleeding or spotting include,
Implantation bleeding: After about 6 to 12 days after conception, some women experience cramping and light spotting. This is known as implantation bleeding. While some women may assume that their period is coming (since implantation bleeding usually appears a few days before a woman’s period), implantation bleeding is very light and may cause pink or brown spotting that may only last a day or two.
Bleeding During Second and Third Trimester
While light bleeding is fairly normal during the first trimester, it’s less common and more likely to be a concern if there is bleeding in the second or third trimester. If you are bleeding during your second or third trimester it’s best to talk with your OBGYN as it could be a sign of,
- Placental abruption
- Problems with the cervix such as an infection
- Placenta previa
- Premature labor
Since bleeding could be a sign of a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or other serious problems, you must talk with your OBGYN about any bleeding you experience. You should call your doctor right away if,
- Your bleeding lasts more than 24 hours
- Bleeding is heavy or you pass blood clots or tissue
- Your bleeding is accompanied by abdominal pain, fevers, or chills

You’ve been running back and forth to the bathroom all day and you’ve noticed an increased urgency to pee, even after you’ve just gone. What gives? Well, if you notice burning or pain with urination you could very well be dealing with a bladder infection. Most people will experience a bladder infection at least once during their lifetime. If you are experiencing symptoms of a bladder infection you may want to call your OBGYN for a checkup.
What are the signs of a bladder infection?
Bladder infections are one of the most common urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you have a bladder infection you may experience,
- Strong-smelling urine
- Cloudy urine
- Increased urgency and frequency of urination
- Abdominal cramping
- Burning with urination
- Pain that lingers after urinating
How is a bladder infection treated?
Your OBGYN will prescribe an oral antibiotic to kill the bacteria in the bladder. You may also receive medication to ease burning and pain with urination. You must be drinking plenty of fluids to flush out bacteria in the bladder.
You should see an improvement in your symptoms after 2 days of taking the antibiotics, but you mustn’t stop taking your medication once you start to feel better, as the infection can return.
Is there a way to prevent bladder infections?
There are certain lifestyle adjustments that you can make to prevent the development of a bladder infection. Some of these habits include,
- Drinking enough water every day
- Taking showers over a bath
- Not douching or using scented feminine products
- Wearing loose-fitting clothes
- Urinating immediately before and after intercourse

Most of the time, this condition doesn’t cause any symptoms. Most women don’t even know they have it until they visit their gynecologist for their annual checkup. If you do have cervical ectropion you may notice,
- Spotting between periods
- Light discharge
- Discomfort during sex
If you aren’t experiencing symptoms, then treatment really isn’t necessary. In some cases, cervical ectropion may just go away on its own. Of course, heavy discharge, bleeding, or pain can be managed through cauterization (performed through heat, cold or silver nitrate), which removes the glandular cells from outside the cervix.
Finding out that there are cellular changes within the cervix can be a little unnerving, but this condition is completely harmless. If you are pregnant this will not harm your unborn child and this cervical ectropion will not increase your risk for cervical cancer.
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