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Inguinal Hernia

What is Inguinal Hernia?

• Inguinal hernias occur when soft tissue, usually part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak point in the groin where the abdomen meets the thigh.

Causes

• Some hernias have no apparent cause.

• But many occur as a result of:

- increased pressure within the abdomen

- a pre-existing weak spot in the abdominal wall

- combination of the two

Risk Factors

• Males are more likely to have an inherent weakness along the inguinal canal, because of the way they develop in the womb.

• Other risk factors include:

- family history

- certain medical conditions

- chronic constipation

- excess weight

- pregnancy

- certain occupations

- premature birth

- history of hernias

Signs/symptoms

• Some inguinal hernias don’t cause any symptoms.

• If symptoms are present, they include feeling:

- a bulge created by the protruding intestine

- pain in the groin especially when coughing or lifting

- dragging sensation in the groin.

Treatment

• Watch and wait approach is taken if it is small and not bothersome.

• Growing or more painful hernias require surgery.

• There are two types of hernia operations: herniorrhaphy and hernioplasty.

• Herniorraphy is when the surgeon makes an incision in the groin and pushes the protruding intestine back into the abdomen.

• Hernioplasty is when a synthetic mesh is used to patch the opening so that the intestine cannot push back through.

Prevention

• You cannot prevent the defect that may have occurred at birth and may lead to an inguinal hernia.

• You can:

- maintain a healthy weight

- emphasize high fiber foods

- lift heavy objects carefully

- stop smoking

Cervical Cancer

What is Cervical Cancer?

• Cervical cancer occurs when there is an abnormal growth of cells in the cervix that grow uncontrollably and have the ability to destroy normal body tissue.

• Older women are most at risk for developing cervical cancer.

• Each year, more than 12,000 women in the US find out that they have cervical cancer, and approximately 4,000 die from it.

Causes

• Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus, are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases.

• The immune system in most women prevents the virus from doing harm, but in some women it can survive for years before it eventually converts some cells on the surface into cancer cells.

Risk Factors

• Many sexual partners. The greater number of partners you have, the greater your chance of acquiring HPV.

• Early sexual activity. First sexual intercourse before age 18 increases your risk of HPV. Immature cells seem to be more susceptible to the precancerous changes that HPV can cause.

• Infection with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). If you have other STD, you have a greater chance of being exposed to HPV.

• Cigarette smoking. The exact link isn’t known, but tobacco use increases the risk of precancerous changes as well as cancer of the cervix.

Signs/symptoms

• Early cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms.

As the cancer progresses, these signs and symptoms may appear:

• Bleeding from the vagina after intercourse

• between periods or after menopause

• Watery, bloody discharge from your vagina that may be heavy and have a foul odor

Treatment

Treatment during the pre-invasive stage where only the outer layer of the lining is affected may include:

• Simple surgery. This involves removing the infected tissue with a scalpel.

• Laser surgery. A narrow beam of intense light is used to kill cancerous and precancerous cells.

• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure. A wire loop with an electrical current cuts the tissue like a surgeon’s knife to remove the abnormal cells.

• Cryosurgery. Freezing and killing cancerous and precancerous cells.

• Simple hysterectomy. Major surgery involving the removal of the cervix and the uterus.

The 5-year survival rate, defined as living 5 years or longer after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, is almost 100 percent for pre-invasive cervical cancer.

Treatment during the invasive stage may include:

• Radical Hysterectomy. Removal of the cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and lymph nodes in the area. Usually one or both ovaries remain and preserve estrogen production.

• Radiation. High energy rays shrink tumors by killing the cancer cells and destroying the ability of the cells to reproduce.

• Chemotherapy. Using drugs to kill cancer cells may enhance the effects of the radiation. Tumors tend to shrink rapidly with aggressive chemotherapy, but the drugs can be toxic.

• The 5-year survival rate is more than 90 percent.

Prevention

The best ways to prevent cervical cancer are to:

• Delay first intercourse

• Have fewer sex partners

• Use condoms

• Have routine PAP tests. A PAP test, or PAP smear is when the cervical cells are swabbed and then sent out for testing. It is the most successful and accurate method of early detection.

• Current guidelines suggest that your first PAP test be performed at the age of 18 if you haven’t been sexually active, or when you first begin having sexual intercourse.

• Gardasil vaccination. Gardasil protects women against the strands of HPV that have been proven a direct link to cervical cancer.

Vaginitis

What is Vaginitis?

• Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina that can cause a discharge, itching or pain.

Causes

There are a few different types of vaginitis and the causes are a little different.

• Bacterial vaginosis

- can result from an overgrowth of an organism that is normally present in your vagina.

- If bad bacteria outnumber good bacteria, the balance is disrupted and bacterial vaginosis may occur.

• Yeast Infections

- occur when internal or external factors change the normal environment of your vagina and trigger a fungus called candida albicans.

• Trichomoniasis

- is a common, sexually transmitted disease caused by a parasite.

Risk Factors

• Bacterial Vaginosis:

- can be spread through sexual intercourse or by having multiple sex partners.

• Yeast infection:

- can be caused by medications like antibiotics or steroids

- uncontrolled diabetes

- hormonal changes

• Although bubble baths, tight-fitting clothing and feminine hygiene products do not cause yeast infections, they may increase your chances of getting one.

• Trichomoniasis:

- spreads through intercourse with someone who is already infected.

Signs/symptoms

• Bacterial Vaginosis

- may develop a grayish-white foul smelling discharge.

• Yeast infection

- most often results in itching

- but may also cause a white, thick discharge that resembles cottage cheese.

• Trichomoniasis

- can cause a greenish-yellow, sometimes frothy discharge.

Treatment

• Vaginosis: requires a prescription for cream

• Yeast infection: can get an over-the-counter cream or suppository

• Trichomonaisis: see a doctor

Prevention

• Good hygiene may prevent some types of vaginitis from recurring and may relieve some symptoms.

• Be sure to wipe from front to back after using the toilet to avoid spreading bacteria.

Jock Itch

What is Jock Itch?

• A fungal infection that affects the skin of the genitals, inner thighs and buttocks.

Causes

• Normally it takes about a month for new skin cells to move from the lowest layer of the skin, where they form, to the outermost area, where they die and scale off in flakes.

• Fungal infections, such as jock itch, are caused by microorganisms that become parasites on the body.

• These mold-like fungi live on dead cells on the outer layer of the skin.

Risk Factors

• The organisms that cause jock itch thrive in damp, close environments.

• Warm, humid settings that promote heavy sweating, thus washing away fungus-killing oils and making skin more prone to infection.

• Wearing tight underwear or athletic supporters that aren’t washed after each use.

• Jock itch is most common in male athletes, but anyone can get the infection.

• It can also occur in people who are overweight or sweat a lot.

Signs/symptoms

• Itchy red rash in warm, moist areas of your body, most often the groin area.

• Other signs include:

- burning sensation around the groin

- flaking, peeling or cracking skin

• Jock itch can make wearing underwear or tight clothing uncomfortable. Walking or exercising may aggravate the rash and worsen the signs and symptoms.

• Jock itch is mildly contagious. It can be spread by:

- sharing towels or clothing with someone who has the infection

- through direct contact

- sexual intercourse

• Although uncomfortable and bothersome, jock itch usually isn’t serious, except possibly for people with weak immune systems.

Treatment

• Keep your groin area clean and dry.

• For milder cases the doctor may advise you to apply an over-the-counter antifungal ointment, lotion, powder or spray.

• For serious cases the doctor writes a prescription.

Prevention

• Be aware of the causes

• bathe daily

• stay dry

• keep clean

• stay cool

• find the correct fit of underwear

• Don’t share personal items

What Have You Learned?

Inguinal Hernia

1. List 2 things that put you at risk for inguinal hernia.

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2. Name two things you can do to prevent inguinal hernia.

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Cervical Cancer

1. Explain why having sex at an early age puts you at risk for cervical cancer.

2. What is the number 1 cause of most cervical cancer cases, and how can this be prevented?

Vaginitis

List 3 ways that you would know that you have some type of vaginitis.

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Jock Itch

Name 3 ways jock itch can be spread.

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