Cancers of the female reproductive system

Cancer can be found in many different body systems, including the female reproductive system. The following sections discuss the most common cancers found in this system.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and about 1 in 43 will die from the disease.

It is not known what causes breast cancer. Risk factors include being female, a family history of breast cancer, inherited genes, radiation exposure, obesity, menarche at a younger age, menopause at an older age, having your first child at an older age, having never been pregnant, postmenopausal hormone therapy, and drinking alcohol. Signs and symptoms include a breast lump or thickening; change in the size, shape, or appearance of a breast; changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling, a newly inverted nipple, peeling, scaling, or flaking of the pigmented area of the skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin; and redness or pitting of the skin over the breast.

Diagnostic procedures start with a breast examination by the provider and may also include a mammogram, breast ultrasound, biopsy, or breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Surgical treatment could consist of a lumpectomy, mastectomy, or sentinel node biopsy. Some women with cancer in one breast choose to have the other breast removed (contralateral prophylactic mastectomy). Treatment could also include radiation, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy.

Female reproductive system diseases

Disease	Description
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)	Abnormal uterine bleeding not caused by a tumor, inflammation, or pregnancy
Menopause	The cessation of menses.
Ovarian cyst	Benign, fluid-filled sac. Can be either a follicular cyst, which occurs when a follicle does not rupture at ovulation, or a cyst of the corpus luteum, which is caused when it does not continue its transformation.
Polycystic ovary syndrome	Bilateral presence of numerous cysts, caused by a hormonal abnormality leading to the secretion of androgens. Can cause acne, facial hair, and infertility.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)	Mood disorder that includes depression, irritability, fatigue, changes in appetite or sleep, and difficulty in concentrating; occurs 1 to 2 weeks before the onset of the menstrual flow.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)	Poorly understood group of symptoms that occur in some women on a cyclical basis breast pain, irritability, fluid retention, headache, and a lack of coordination are some of the symptoms.
Tumors fibroid/myoma	Fibroids are smooth muscle tumors of the uterus. They are usually nonpainful growths that may be removed surgically. These tumors may also be referred to as myomas.

Pregnancy-related conditions

Disease	Description
Abruptio placentae	Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall; may result in a severe hemorrhage that can threaten both infant and maternal lives.
Eclampsia	Extremely serious form of hypertension secondary to pregnancy. Patients are at risk for coma, convulsions, and death.
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)	A mother with Rh− blood will develop antibodies to an Rh+ fetus during the first pregnancy. If another pregnancy occurs with an Rh+ fetus, the antibodies can destroy the fetal blood cells.
Hyperemesis gravidarum	Excessive vomiting that causes weakness, dehydration, and fluid and electrolyte imbalance.
Placenta previa	Placenta that is positioned in the uterus so that it covers the opening of the cervix.
Preeclampsia	Abnormal condition of pregnancy with unknown cause, marked by hypertension, edema, and proteinuria.
Zika virus	A mosquito-borne virus that typically causes a mild fever, rash, and joint pain. The virus can be passed to a fetus and is associated with certain birth defects such as microcephaly.

Cervical cancer

Almost all cervical carcinomas are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The first stage of cervical cancer is asymptomatic, but early diagnosis of cervical cellular changes is possible with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test, and HPV can be detected with HPV testing.

The causes of cervical cancer are not known, but HPV is known to play a role. Risk factors include many sexual partners, early sexual activity, having other STIs, a weak immune system, and smoking. In the early stages of cervical cancer, the patient is asymptomatic. In the advanced stages, signs and symptoms include vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods, or after menopause; watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor; and pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.

A Pap test is the most common screening test. From the same sample, an HPV test can be done. Diagnostic tests include a punch biopsy, endocervical curettage, colposcopy, and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). The LEEP procedure can also be a treatment that removes all of the cancer cells. Other treatment options include cone biopsy, hysterectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, but it accounts for only about 3% of all cancers in women. Most of the time, the cancer has already metastasized before the tumor is diagnosed.

It is not known what causes ovarian cancer. Risk factors include age, inherited gene mutation, estrogen hormone replacement therapy, menarche at a young age, menopause at an older age, having never been pregnant, fertility treatment, smoking, and polycystic ovary syndrome. In the early stages of ovarian cancer, the patient is asymptomatic. In the advanced stages, signs and symptoms can include abdominal bloating, quickly feeling full when eating, weight loss, discomfort in the pelvis area, changes in bowel habits, and a frequent need to urinate.

Diagnostic procedures include a pelvic examination, ultrasound, or computed tomography (CT) scan, cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) blood test (which looks for certain proteins in the blood), and a biopsy. Surgical treatments include hysterectomy, unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy may also be used in the treatment of ovarian cancer.