Abdomen

Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is a frequent manifestation of disorders of the abdominal organs, but it may also result from disorders in which the primary problem lies outside the abdomen.

Candidiasis/Thrush

Candidiasis, also known as "Candida" or "yeast", is an infection caused by strains of Candida fungi, especially Candida albicans. Candida normally lives harmlessly in the body

Constipation

Constipation occurs when stools become hardened and difficult to pass.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is an abnormal increase in the frequency and liquidity of the stools.

Dysmenorrhoea

Dysmenorrhoea is described as menstrual pain that is severe enough to limit a woman’s normal activities and is requiring medical attention.

Flatus

Flatus (flatulence) is air or gas in the intestine that is released through the rectum. This gas consists mainly of the odourless gas carbon dioxide.

Haemorrhoids

Haemorrhoids are enlarged veins around the anal canal and can be internal or external.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or spastic colon is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders.

Heavy periods

Menorrhagia is a common disorder in which women have an unusually heavy or prolonged menstrual flow.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting have many possible causes, and are not always related to disease of the gastro-intestinal tract.

Premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a set of specific physical and psychological features. PMS occurs in the last half of a woman's menstrual cycle.

Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine. It is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of many different disease processes.

Urinary Tract Infection

Tewnty-five to thirty percent of women between the ages of 20 and 40 years have had urinary tract infections. These infections are caused by the bacterium E.coli.

Vaginal infection

Vaginitis is infection or inflammation of the vagina.

Worms

Wormlike parasites, called helminths, usually (but not always) live in the gastrointestinal tract (the gut). Some helminths can also infect the bloodstream or tissues.

Septicaemia

Septicaemia is the poisoning of the blood by bacteria, usually through a lung, abdomen or urinary tract infection.

Gastroenteritis

"Gastroenteritis" means inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

Pelvic organ prolapse in women

Pelvic organ prolapse in women is common and results in discomfort and dysfunction.

Cancer of the cervix

Cancer of the cervix is a very common malignant disease in South African women.

Genital warts (condyloma acuminata)

Genital warts have been described since ancient times. The viruses that cause the warts are varieties of the human papilloma virus (HPV).

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is a sexually transmitted infection and is very contagious. The most common way to get HPV is by skin-to-skin contact during oral, vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HPV.