Chronic Disease Treatment in Chicago, IL
Many women experience recurring problems such as missing periods or painful periods that they think are just the norm; however, these could be signs of a gynecological disorder. Fortunately, our board-certified OBGYN Dr. Teresa Hubka can easily detect common gynecological disorders and provide interventions and treatment options that can help women feel their best.
The most common types of chronic or persistent gynecological disorders we treat include:
Endometriosis: Sometimes the tissue found within the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. With every menstrual cycle, the body sheds this endometrial lining; however, because this lining is outside the uterus, it has nowhere to go. As a result, the tissue can become inflamed and lead to scar tissue, adhesions, and some pretty intense abdominal pain (typically around your cycle).
While there is no cure for endometriosis, Dr. Hubka and her team offer effective treatment plans to help get your pain under control. Common ways to treat endometriosis include:
- Hormonal treatments: this includes everything from hormonal contraception to gonadotropin-releasing hormones
- Pain medications: NSAID pain relievers may work for milder forms of pain
- Surgery: Sometimes surgery is needed to remove scar tissue, adhesions, and tissue from outside the uterus to reduce pain (this is more commonly recommended for women dealing with severe endometriosis)
Urinary Incontinence: Many women experience leakage or problems holding their urine; however, millions of American adults deal with chronic urinary incontinence due to age, medications, or certain diseases. If you experience urinary leakage that is impacting your quality of life, our gynecological team can help. We will first need to determine the cause before we determine the best way to treat your urinary incontinence. Some treatment options include:
- Pelvic muscle rehabilitation
- Behavioral therapies
- Topical or oral medications (e.g. vaginal estrogen)
- Botox injections
- Nerve stimulation
- Sling surgery
Vulvodynia: This condition refers to chronic pain in the vulva. Women often mistake these symptoms for that of a yeast infection as symptoms are very similar. With vulvodynia, it’s common to experience itching, redness, and burning. The skin may also be raw. Symptoms have to last at least three months to be considered vulvodynia. There are a variety of treatment options that can help alleviate vulvodynia-related pain including:
- Oral pain medications
- Antidepressants
- Topical anesthetics and/or steroids
- Neurostimulation
- Nerve block
- Pelvic floor muscle therapy