It is an established fact that the most abnormal menstrual bleeding is due to Hormonal Imbalance. Most women are not aware about the signs of gynecological problems, and are negligent about symptoms, which are not related to the reproductive organs .These include back-pain and increased urination. So here are some of the most common gynae problems that women in the 21^st century face according to research done by the JJ Institute of Medical Sciences.

Dysmenorrhea:

 The most common gynecological problem which menstruating women face is primary dysmenorrhea. It is so common that many women fail to report it in medical interviews, even when their daily activities are restricted. Primary Dysmenorrhea is cramping pain which occurs in the lower abdomen at the onset of menstruation. There is no sign of any pelvic disease, which can be identified. It is distinguished from secondary dysmenorrhea, which refers to painful menses resulting from pelvic pathology such as endometriosis.

Dysmenorrhea refers to the symptom of painful menstruation. Dysmenorrhea can be divided into two: primary (occurs in absence of pelvic pathology) and secondary ( which results from identifiable organic diseases).

Primary dysmenorrhea is another name for common menstrual cramps. As a woman starts menstruating, cramps develop after 1 to 2 years. Pain usually is felt in the lower abdomen or back. They can be mild to severe. Common menstrual cramps either start before or at the start of the period and continue for one to three days. They usually become less painful as a woman ages and may stop entirely after the woman has her first baby.

The pain caused by a disorder in the woman's reproductive organs is called Secondary dysmenorrheal. These cramps usually begin earlier in the menstrual cycle and last longer than common menstrual cramps.

Causes: The contractions in the uterus lead to Menstrual cramps. The uterus contracts throughout a woman's menstrual cycle. If it contracts too strongly, it can press against nearby blood vessels, cutting off the supply of oxygen to the muscle tissue of the uterus. Pain results when part of a muscle briefly loses its supply of oxygen.

Endometriosis:
Endometriosis, sometimes called "endo," is a common health problem in women. The name is derived from the word endometrium, which is a tissue that borders the uterus or the womb. Endometriosis happens when this tissue grows outside of your uterus and on other areas in your body where it doesn't belong.

Most often, endometriosis is found on the:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Tissues that hold the uterus in place
• Outer surface of the uterus

Causes: The cause of endometriosis is unknown. One theory suggests that the endometrial tissue gets deposited at unusual places due to the backing up of menstrual flow into the Fallopian tubes and the pelvic and abdominal cavity during menstruation (termed retrograde menstruation). But retrograde menstruation cannot be the sole cause of endometriosis. Not all women suffering from retrograde menstruation, develop endometriosis.

Symptoms:

• Very painful menstrual cramps.
• Chronic (long-term) pain in the lower back and pelvis.
• Pain during or after sex. This is usually described as a "deep" pain and is different from the pain felt at the entrance to the vagina when penetration begins.
• Painful bowel movements or pain when urinating during menstrual periods. In rare cases, blood on stool and urine may occur.
• Bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI):

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria and are 10 times more common among women than men. More than 50% of the women suffer from UTI once during their lifetime. About 30 - 40% of UTIs recur within 6 months after the initial episode. When UTIs recur, it is  usually because of the treatments which were used for suppressing bacteria earlier, fail to produce a lasting cure. UTIs can also recur if a woman is infected by different bacteria.

Causes:

• A new sex partner or multiple partners
• More frequent or intense intercourse
• Diabetes
• Pregnancy
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Using harsh skin cleaning products which cause irritation
• Use of irritating contraceptives, such as diaphragms and spermicides
• Use of birth control pills
• Heavy use of antibiotics
• A blockage in the urinary tract (benign masses or tumors)
• A history of UTIs, especially if infections are less than 6 months apart

Symptoms:

• Pain or burning during urination
• Increased frequency of urination
• A feeling of urgency during urination
• Blood or pus in the urine
• Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
• Chills or fever (fever may be the only symptom in infants and children)
• Strong smelling urine
• Pain during sexual intercourse

Get inspired to learn more about your gynecological health, let your mothers, sisters, wives and relatives know what is going on with their health and here In India we are fortunate to have JJ Institute of Medical Sciences to see them through.