Gynecological disorders affect the internal
and external organs in a woman’s pelvic and abdominal areas
and may affect a woman’s fertility. These disorders include
vulvodynia—unexplained chronic discomfort or pain of the
vulva—and chronic pelvic pain, which is a consistent and
severe pain occurring mostly in the lower abdomen for at
least 6 months. While the causes of vulvodynia are unknown,
recent evidence suggests that it may occur in up to 16 percent
of women, usually beginning before age 25, and that Hispanic
women are at greater risk for this disorder.1
Chronic pelvic pain may be symptomatic of an infection or
indicate a problem with one of the organs in the pelvic
area.2
Reproductive disorders may affect a woman’s
ability to get pregnant. Examples of these disorders include
polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and uterine
fibroids. PCOS occurs when immature follicles in the ovaries
form together to create a large cyst, preventing mature
eggs from being released. In most cases, the failure of
the follicles to release the eggs results in a woman’s inability
to become pregnant. An estimated 5–10 percent of women in
the United States are affected by PCOS. Endometriosis, in
which tissue resembling that of the uterine lining grows
outside of the uterus, is estimated to affect nearly 5.5
million women in North America. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous
tumors that grow underneath the lining, between the muscles,
or on the outside of the uterus. A hysterectomy—abdominal
surgery to remove the uterus—is one option to treat certain
conditions including chronic pelvic pain, uterine fibroids,
PCOS, and endometriosis when symptoms are severe.2
In 2004, 8.1 percent of women aged 20–54
years had endometriosis and 15.6 percent had uterine fibroids,
but the prevalence of both disorders varied with age. Of
women aged 20–54 years, endometriosis was most common among
the 35- to 44-year-old age group (12.4 percent), while uterine
fibroids were most common among 45- to 54-year-olds (27.6
percent). Women aged 20–34 years were least likely to have
either disorder (4.1 and 2.1 percent, respectively).
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Vertical Bar Chart: Endometriosis and Uterine Fibroids
Among Women Aged 20-54, by Age, 2004
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