

Yan Qiao

About me
Loudi Central Hospital, Department of Gynecology, Attending Physician.
Proficient in diseases
Diagnosis and treatment of common gynecological diseases.

Voices

How long after laparoscopic surgery for a teratoma can one have sexual intercourse?
Teratomas are predominantly benign tumors, mainly located in the ovaries, although in some patients with unique physical constitutions, ovarian tissues may also ectopically end up in the pelvic area, forming a pelvic teratoma. Whether it is an ovarian teratoma or a pelvic teratoma, the scope of the surgery is typically medium-sized. If the surgery is an open operation, it is classified as a second-level surgery, and if it is performed using laparoscopy, it should be classified as a third-level surgery. Both second and third-level surgeries fall under the medium-sized category, and patients usually recover quite quickly after the operation. Typically, we advise patients to refrain from sexual intercourse, pelvic baths, and to avoid heavy physical labor within a month post-operation.

What should I do if I have uterine prolapse during menstruation?
The normal position of the uterus is within the female pelvis. When a prolapse occurs, the uterus gradually descends downwards. In cases of mild to moderate uterine prolapse, since the majority of the uterus remains inside the vagina, there is no particular need for special attention during menstruation—regular care will suffice. In severe cases of uterine prolapse, the uterus might completely protrude outside the vaginal opening. In such circumstances, extra care may be needed during menstruation to prevent menstrual blood from staining undergarments. You might need to use larger sanitary pads; other than that, there is nothing particularly different that needs attention. Additionally, remember to change sanitary pads and underwear regularly to avoid potential infections.

What are the symptoms of teratoma recurrence?
If a teratoma recurs, in cases of benign teratomas, generally there are no symptoms. Symptoms only arise when the tumor grows large enough to compress the bladder and intestines, which might induce signs of bladder and rectal irritation. Additionally, a teratoma might undergo torsion due to changes in body position, causing sudden lower abdominal pain. If it is a malignant teratoma, there might not be noticeable symptoms early on. The recurrence of a teratoma can only be detected through regular monitoring with ultrasound and tumor markers; there are no better methods available.

Complications of vulvitis
For patients with vulvitis, the main complications are the formation of vulvar ulcers or eczema. In chronic inflammation, the skin of the vulva may become thickened, rough, or cracked, and even undergo lichen-like changes. In severe cases, the condition may cause fever and other systemic symptoms, and even lead to enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes. Furthermore, vulvitis and its pathogens might spread upwards, causing an onset of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Does cervical cancer hurt?
For patients with cervical cancer, the most common clinical manifestations are bleeding during sexual intercourse and irregular vaginal bleeding. Patients who have undergone menopause may also experience irregular vaginal bleeding post-menopause, and some patients may not show any clinical signs at a very early stage. As the cancer progresses, and when it invades nearby organs and metastasizes, it may cause lower abdominal distension and pain, and even more severe pain if the metastatic organs compress nerves or directly invade areas containing nerves.

What to do about teratoma pain in the lower abdomen?
Patients with teratomas experiencing lower abdominal pain require immediate attention. Due to the uneven texture of the teratoma itself, it can easily lead to torsion of the ovarian tumor pedicle as a result of changes in the patient's body position. Ovarian tumor pedicle torsion is a gynecological emergency requiring urgent surgical intervention. This is particularly crucial for young women who have not yet given birth, as early surgery can preserve the affected ovary, potentially improving future fertility chances. For older women, emergency surgery to relieve symptoms is also extremely important. Therefore, abdominal pain in patients with teratomas must be taken seriously.

What are the symptoms of vulvitis?
Vulvitis primarily manifests as itching, pain, and a burning sensation in the vulvar skin. After activities, sexual intercourse, urination, and defecation, symptoms can worsen. During the acute inflammatory phase, one might observe that the vulva is congested, swollen, and eroded, often showing scratch marks, and in severe cases, ulcers or eczema may form. In chronic inflammation, examination may reveal thickened, rough, and cracked vulvar skin, which might even undergo lichen-like changes. Vulvitis may be caused by pathogens or by non-infectious factors such as physical or chemical agents leading to inflammation of the vulvar skin or mucous membrane. If the condition is caused by pathogens, active anti-inflammatory treatment is necessary. However, if it is triggered by non-infectious factors, one should actively identify and eliminate the underlying cause and improve local hygiene. For instance, in the case of diabetic patients, it is crucial to treat the condition promptly and control blood sugar levels. If there is fistula formation, such as urinary or fecal fistulas, timely repair should be done to eliminate the cause of the disease, allowing it to naturally heal on its own.

How large must an ovarian teratoma be to require surgery?
Ovarian teratomas, if detected by ultrasound, are indicative of surgery regardless of the size of the tumor. However, it is essential to locate the lesion accurately to proceed with the surgery. For teratomas smaller than two centimeters, it can be quite challenging to find the lesion, which might lead to surgical failure. Additionally, this can increase the trauma for the patient and the costs of surgery. Thus, it is generally advised to perform surgery on teratomas that are larger than two centimeters to ensure a more reliable outcome. In cases where patients have other diseases in conjunction with a teratoma, it is also feasible to consider removing the teratoma during surgery for the other conditions, always attempting to thoroughly explore and locate the teratoma regardless of its size.

Symptoms of vulvar lichen sclerosus around the anus
Vulvar lichen sclerosus encompasses a multitude of different pathological types, primarily including simple lichen, sclerotic lichen, as well as lichen planus, Behcet's disease, vulvar vitiligo, and other secondary hypopigmentary disorders of the vulva. However, the primary conditions that can present with white lesions in the perianal area are sclerotic lichen and vulvar vitiligo. If the perianal white lesions are caused by vulvar vitiligo, they generally do not exhibit any symptoms and do not require special treatment. If the condition is sclerotic lichen, it may cause local pain, itching, and a burning sensation in the perianal area, particularly after defecation, which can lead to discomfort.

How to treat the symptoms of trichomoniasis vaginitis?
Trichomonas vaginitis is one of the common types of vaginitis in women and is classified as a sexually transmitted disease. It can cause symptoms of urinary tract infection by invading the urinary tract, such as frequent urination, urgent urination, painful urination, and even bloody urine. The main treatment involves the use of systemic medications, currently primarily nitroimidazole drugs, including metronidazole and tinidazole. The main treatment regimens include taking two pills of metronidazole as a single dose, two pills of tinidazole as a single dose, or 400 mg of metronidazole twice daily for seven consecutive days. Sexual partners need to be treated simultaneously, and unprotected sexual intercourse should be avoided during the treatment period. Within three months of treatment, patients should be re-examined, generally after the menstrual period is over. If three consecutive re-examinations are negative, it can be declared cured.