Background

Condition Lookup

Number of Conditions: 9

Heavy Periods (Menorrhagia)

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Category: Genitourinary and Reproductive Health

Sub-category: Menstrual disorders

Symptoms:
excessive menstrual bleeding lasting more than 7 days; passing large clots; fatigue or weakness due to blood loss; pelvic pain during menstruation

Root Cause:
Hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids, polyps, endometriosis, or bleeding disorders.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, pelvic examination, blood tests (e.g., hemoglobin levels), ultrasound, hysteroscopy.

Treatment:
Medications, hormonal therapy, surgical interventions if severe.

Medications:
NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen ), hormonal contraceptives (e.g., oral pills, IUD), tranexamic acid, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 20–30% of women of reproductive age.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Obesity, family history, bleeding disorders, hormonal imbalances.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Manageable with treatment; underlying cause dictates long-term outcomes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Anemia, fatigue, reduced quality of life.

Amenorrhea

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Category: Genitourinary and Reproductive Health

Sub-category: Menstrual disorders

Symptoms:
absence of menstrual periods for more than three cycles in a row (secondary amenorrhea); delayed onset of menstruation in adolescents (primary amenorrhea)

Root Cause:
Hormonal imbalances, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid dysfunction, extreme stress, or low body weight.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, physical examination, blood tests (hormone levels), pelvic ultrasound, MRI (for pituitary abnormalities).

Treatment:
Treating the underlying cause (e.g., hormonal therapy, lifestyle changes).

Medications:
Hormonal therapy (e.g., combined oral contraceptives), medications for specific causes (e.g., levothyroxine for hypothyroidism).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 3–4% of women; more common in athletes or individuals with eating disorders.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
PCOS, extreme physical activity, low body fat, chronic illnesses.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with treatment; depends on addressing the underlying cause.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infertility, osteoporosis (from long-term low estrogen levels).

Contraception Advice and Prescriptions

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Category: Genitourinary and Reproductive Health

Symptoms:
not applicable; involves choosing methods to prevent pregnancy or manage menstrual cycles.

Root Cause:
Individual needs for pregnancy prevention, menstrual regulation, or treatment of gynecological conditions.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Patient preferences, medical history, physical examination.

Treatment:
Counseling on methods (hormonal, barrier, long-acting reversible contraception, permanent sterilization).

Medications:
Hormonal contraceptives (e.g., oral pills, patches, injections, IUDs), emergency contraception (levonorgestrel , ulipristal acetate).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Used by a majority of women of reproductive age globally.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Individual preferences, medical conditions affecting choice of contraception.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with proper method selection and adherence.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hormonal side effects, rare risks of blood clots with hormonal methods.

Fertility Advice and Initial Assessments

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Category: Genitourinary and Reproductive Health

Symptoms:
not applicable; involves difficulties conceiving or planning pregnancy.

Root Cause:
Ovulatory dysfunction, sperm abnormalities, age-related decline in fertility, structural issues.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
History, hormonal tests, semen analysis, ultrasound, hysterosalpingography.

Treatment:
Lifestyle changes, ovulation induction, referral to specialists for advanced treatments.

Medications:
Clomiphene citrate, letrozole , gonadotropins for ovulation induction.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 10–15% of couples worldwide.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, PCOS, endometriosis, lifestyle factors, male infertility.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early intervention; advanced treatments improve outcomes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Emotional distress, need for assisted reproductive techniques (e.g., IVF).

Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Category: Genitourinary and Reproductive Health

Symptoms:
difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection; reduced sexual desire

Root Cause:
Vascular, neurological, hormonal, or psychological causes.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
History, physical exam, blood tests (testosterone, glucose), vascular studies (penile Doppler ultrasound).

Treatment:
Lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, medications.

Medications:
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil , tadalafil ), hormone replacement (testosterone ) if low.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 30–50% of men aged 40–70.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, smoking, psychological stress.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with treatment; underlying causes dictate outcomes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Relationship stress, reduced quality of life.

Cystitis

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Category: Genitourinary and Reproductive Health

Symptoms:
painful urination; frequent urination; pelvic discomfort; cloudy or foul-smelling urine; blood in urine

Root Cause:
Inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by bacterial infection (most commonly Escherichia coli).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Urinalysis, urine culture.

Treatment:
Antibiotics, hydration, pain relief.

Medications:
Nitrofurantoin , trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fosfomycin .

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, especially in women; affects up to 50% at least once in their lifetime.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female anatomy, sexual activity, urinary catheter use.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrent infections, pyelonephritis, chronic bladder inflammation.

Kidney Infections (Pyelonephritis)

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Category: Genitourinary and Reproductive Health

Symptoms:
fever; flank pain; nausea; vomiting; chills; painful urination; cloudy or foul-smelling urine

Root Cause:
Bacterial infection ascending from the bladder to the kidneys.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Urinalysis, urine culture, imaging (e.g., CT or ultrasound for severe cases).

Treatment:
Antibiotics, hydration, hospitalization in severe cases.

Medications:
Ciprofloxacin , ceftriaxone , trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 1–2% of women annually; less common in men.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
UTIs, kidney stones, diabetes, urinary obstruction.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Sepsis, kidney damage, abscess formation.

Yeast Infections

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Category: Genitourinary and Reproductive Health

Sub-category: Vaginal Infections

Symptoms:
itching and irritation in the vaginal area; thick, white discharge; redness or swelling; pain during intercourse or urination

Root Cause:
Overgrowth of Candida species, commonly Candida albicans, in the vaginal or genital area.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, microscopic evaluation of discharge.

Treatment:
Antifungal medications.

Medications:
Topical antifungals (e.g., clotrimazole , miconazole ), oral fluconazole .

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 75% of women at least once in their lifetime.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Antibiotic use, high blood sugar, weakened immune system.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic or recurrent infections.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Category: Genitourinary and Reproductive Health

Sub-category: Vaginal Infections

Symptoms:
thin, gray or white vaginal discharge; fishy odor, especially after intercourse; mild itching or irritation

Root Cause:
Disruption of normal vaginal flora, with an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, vaginal pH testing, microscopy (clue cells).

Treatment:
Antibiotics.

Medications:
Metronidazole (oral or gel), clindamycin (oral or cream).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Multiple sexual partners, douching, new sexual partner.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with treatment; recurrence is common.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Increased risk of STIs, pelvic inflammatory disease, complications during pregnancy.