Gynecological issues affecting women go well beyond childbearing years.
Infertility
Infertility is the failure of a couple to conceive a pregnancy after trying to do so for at least one full year. Currently, in the United States, about 20% of couples struggle with infertility at any given time. It is well known that fertility in women decreases with increasing age and that infertility has increased over the last 30 years.
Menopause
Menopause represents the end of menstruation. Changes in hormonal cycling begins two to eight years prior to menopause in phase known as perimenopause, During this time, hormonal fluctuations lead to menstrual irregularities and some women experience symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, increased urinary tract problems, loss of libido, weight gain, and skin dryness.
Incontinence
Urinary incontinence affects more than 12 million American women—more than two times more women than men. More than 20% over the age of 65 and large numbers of young people have periodic or chronic incontinence.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Also called fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas, uterine fibroids are not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and very rarely develop into cancer.