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- The Pouch of Douglas
The pouch of douglas is an area located between the rectum and the posterior wall of the uterus. It is a long and narrow structure that is found in the lower portion of the peritoneal cavity, and its function is to drain the fluids from the cavity. During the menstrual cycle, some fluid collects in the pouch, but it dissipates spontaneously so it holds no health hazards. Sometimes though, there may be a collection of fluid above the normal volume, and it may indicate these problems:
- Ruptured ovarian cyst
Fluid collected may have been as a result of the rupture of an ovarian cyst, a small fluid-filled sac, resulting in the accumulation of fluid within the pouch. It normally requires surgery to remove.
- Peritonitis
This is caused by a collection of pus leading to inflammation of the peritoneum. It may result from a bacterial infection (Primary peritonitis), from a perforation in the abdomen (Secondary peritonitis), or from a recurring infection (Tertiary peritonitis).
- Pelvic Abscess
It is usually caused by pelvic inflammatory diseases. With this condition, pus accumulation is seen originating from a genital tract infection from earlier on.
- Endometriosis
When endometriosis is found in the pouch of Douglas, the patient may experience pain during sexual intercourse. Severe cases of endometriosis are characterized by an obliteration of the pouch of Douglas, as well as the presence of chocolate cysts upon laparoscopy.
Conditions involving the Pouch of Douglas can be managed through various means:
- Culdoscopy
This involves insertion of an endoscope through the vagina and in the Pouch of Douglas to further examine the pelvic cavity. After this is done the fluid is drained.
- Peritoneal Dialysis
This method involves inserting a catheter into the Pouch of Douglas. The fluid is later drained through the catheter.
- Uterine Fibroids
These are the most common non-cancerous tumors that affect women of childbearing age. The cause of fibroids is unknown. The symptoms are urinating often, painful periods, pain during sex, lower back pain and reproductive problems.
- Gynecologic cancer
There are five main gynecologic cancers that affect women. These are:
- Cervical cancer which affects the cervix
- Uterine cancer which affects the ovaries.
- Vaginal cancer which affects the vagina.
- Ovarian cancer which affects the ovaries.
- Vulvar cancer which affects the vulva.
- Stroke
Stroke is ranked as the fifth major cause of death. Females are more likely to be affected by stroke than men. About 60 percent of all cases of stroke happens to women. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to some part of your brain is interrupted depriving the brain of oxygen and nutrients. This causes brain cells to start dying immediately. Luckily, stroke can be prevented and treated thus the mortality rate due to the illness has reduced. These are some of the symptoms that characterize a stroke attack:
- Trouble with speaking and understanding.
- Headache.
- Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes.
- Trouble with walking.
- Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg.
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