A disease refers to a condition in which the body no longer functions normally. Sometimes, tumors can grow on organs such as the uterus and lead to severe bleeding. In some cases, a sexually transmitted disease can lead to pelvic pain and infection. Cancer can also affect the lymph (fluid that carries the cells necessary to fight infection) in the body. While a person can be predisposed to develop a disease, many diseases are preventable.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis refers to a condition affecting the inner lining of the uterus. Specifically, endometriosis is a disease in which the endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus. For example, the tissue can form on the fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic tissues, says the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms of endometriosis include pelvic pain and cramping with periods. Sometimes, the pain can be intense and sometimes the pain may be mild. Endometriosis can also lead to heavy vaginal bleeding (menorrhagia) or bleeding in between periods (menometrorrhagia). In some cases, endometriosis can lead to infertility.
The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown. A few theories exist, however. One theory suggests that the endometrial tissue actually flows back into the fallopian tube and attaches there and grows. Another theory says that endometrial cells actually float in the blood vessels and attach to different regions of the body. Other theories suggest that endometriosis is inherited, while another says that stomach cells turn into endometrial tissue.
The Mayo Clinic says that treatment for endometriosis includes taking pain medications such as ibuprofen to help decrease pelvic pain and cramping. Other treatments include such hormonal therapy as birth control pills, danazol, medroxyprogesterone and aromatase inhibitors. These medications can stop the growth of endometrial tissue and also manage its pain symptoms.
Sometimes, surgery may be necessary to remove the endometrial tissue. The entire uterus and ovaries are removed (hysterectomy) if endometriosis is extensive.
Hodgkin's Lymphoma
The Mayo Clinic says that Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. Specific symptoms of this disease include extreme fatigue, chronic swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, groin and armpits, fevers, chills and night sweats. Hodgkin's lymphoma can also lead to a poor appetite, itching, unintentional weight loss of at least 10 percent or more of body weight and increased sensitivity to pain or alcohol.
There is no known cause of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Various chemotherapy treatment regimens are available to manage Hodgkin's disease. Radiation may be used to destroy cancer cells and a bone marrow or stem cell transplant may be necessary to replace the cancerous cells in the body with healthy cells.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
FamilyDoctor.org says that pelvic inflammatory disease refers to an infection of the female reproductive tract. Signs of this condition include low back pain, pain in the lower part of the stomach, vaginal discharge that is yellow or green, vomiting, diarrhea and pain during sexual intercourse.
This disease is primarily sexually transmitted.
Antibiotic medications such as doxycycline can help manage pelvic inflammatory disease.
