Today, many women are faced with a diagnosis such as leukoplakia. What is gynecology? Why does this disease occur? How dangerous can it be? What treatments does modern medicine offer? The answers to these questions are sought by many readers.
Leukoplakia - what is it in gynecology?
To begin with, it is worth saying that such a violation is attributed to the group of so-called precancerous pathologies. And today, many patients at the antenatal clinic hear the diagnosis of leukoplakia. What is gynecology? How is it manifested? What kind of tissue affects?
This disease is accompanied by thickening and subsequent keratinization of the mucous membrane of the reproductive organs. Most often, doctors in modern medical practice register lecoplakia of the cervix, in which the cervical canal is also affected. In addition, a change in the integument is often observed in the vaginal part of the uterus. Leukoplakia of the vagina and vulva is less commonly diagnosed.
This problem is not considered too common - according to the results of statistical studies, about 5-6% of women experience a similar disease. Nevertheless, it is impossible in any case to ignore it. The fact is that this disease significantly increases the likelihood of malignant degeneration of tissues and the development of cancer in the future.
The main causes of the development of the disease
There are some factors under the influence of which such an unpleasant and dangerous disease as leukoplakia can develop. What is gynecology? To begin with, it is worth saying that the cause of tissue changes can be the impact of both external and internal environment.
Internal causes include malfunctioning of the endocrine system. Violation of the hormonal background can lead to anovulation, hyperestrogenia, a sharp decrease in progesterone levels, as a result of which hyperplastic processes in the tissues are observed.
Quite often, uterine leukoplakia is the result of an infectious and inflammatory process. In particular, risk factors are previously transferred adnexitis, endometritis, and disorders of the normal menstrual cycle. In addition, tissue changes can develop against the background of infections, including herpes, ureaplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and papillomavirus infection, mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, etc. Non-specific infectious diseases (for example, cervicitis, colpitis) can also be dangerous.
Chemical and traumatic injuries of uterine tissue resulting from abortion, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures (curettage, cauterization of erosion) also contribute to the development of the disease. Risk factors include a decrease in the activity of the immune system, promiscuous sex life.
Types of Leukoplakia
There are several forms of the disease called leukoplakia. Gynecology distinguishes three main, although in fact there are several classification schemes. Nevertheless, depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease, the following types of pathology can be found in a woman:
- A simple form of leukoplakia. It is considered one of the background changes. A similar process is characterized by a thickening and gradual keratinization of the surface layers of the epithelium - while the basal and parabasal layers are not affected by this disorder.
- Proliferative forms of the disease. Accompanied by a violation of the normal differentiation of tissues, as a result of which there is a change in all layers of cells and the gradual formation of atypical structures. A similar form of the disease is regarded as a precancerous condition.
Depending on the course of the disease, a flat one (whitish films are formed on the surface of the epithelium), scaly (keratinized areas can be noticed), erosive (cell change is accompanied by the formation of erosion), warty and some other forms of lecoplakia.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
Many women are interested in questions about what signs are associated with leukoplakia. Reviews of doctors and patients, as well as data from statistical surveys prove that most often this disease proceeds without any symptoms. Most often, a pathological change and keratinization of cells is detected by a doctor at a routine gynecological examination.
Only occasionally, leukoplakia causes some visible disorders - most often only if it proceeds against a background of inflammation. Women with similar problems complain of a small amount of leucorrhoea with an uncharacteristic color and smell. Sometimes itching of the external genitalia is observed. Some patients complain of painful menstruation and pain during intercourse.
What does the diagnostic process look like?
Quite a few patients today are interested in questions about what leukoplakia is. Symptoms and treatment of this disease, the complications associated with it, are also of interest to women. But no less important information is the diagnostic process.
As already mentioned, the doctor may suspect the presence of leukoplakia during a routine examination of the neck using mirrors. In the presence of whitish areas and keratinized tissues, tissue scraping is performed (by the way, these areas can be either single or multiple).
During a laboratory test, a specialist can notice the presence of cells with parakeratosis and hyperkeratosis. In some cases, a knife biopsy and histological examination of exocervix tissue are additionally performed - this makes it possible to determine the presence of deep proliferation and atypia of cells.
In the future, an extended colposcopy is performed, during which the doctor manages to carefully examine the plaques formed on the tissues. In addition, it is extremely important to determine the cause of the development of the disease, therefore, patients are often prescribed hormonal, bacteriological, immunological studies and some other tests. Sometimes additional consultation with an endocrinologist and oncologist is required.
Medication for Leukoplakia
Only a doctor can diagnose a woman with uterine leukoplakia. Treatment in this case is selected individually, since everything here depends on the form and severity of the disease, the causes of its occurrence, as well as the patient's age and characteristics of her body.
Drug treatment is advisable if cervical leukoplakia is associated with infection or inflammation. In such cases, patients are prescribed anti-inflammatory, antibacterial or antiviral agents. If there are problems with the immune system, it is necessary to take immunomodulators, vitamin complexes, etc. If the disease arose due to a malfunction in the endocrine system, then treatment with hormonal drugs may be necessary.
Therapy, as a rule, lasts about two months. During this period, a woman should carefully follow all the recommendations of a doctor. By the way, during treatment you need to stop all sexual contacts - this will speed up the process of restoring normal epithelium.
Other treatments for leukoplakia
To date, there are many methods to remove keratinization and thickening of tissues. But once again it is worth saying that at first it is extremely important to find out and eliminate the cause of the disease, and only then proceed to the removal of the lesion sites. Today, there are several popular methods:
- Surgical coagulation involves cauterization of lesions using aggressive medication, for example, Solkovagin. The procedure is almost painless, rarely accompanied by complications. In addition, approximately 75-96% after cauterization is observed complete recovery.
- Electrocoagulation is a procedure in which areas of leukoplakia are cauterized using electric current. This technique is associated with some serious complications, in particular, bleeding and infection of tissues, so it is rarely used in gynecology.
- Another quite effective method is cryodestruction, which also gives 96% result. During the procedure, the changed areas are exposed to liquid nitrogen, which causes the death and tissue rejection.
- The most effective and safe today is laser removal of leukoplakia. This technique allows you to quickly remove the changed areas and at the same time avoid contact with blood and tissues, it minimizes the likelihood of infection. By the way, in the presence of large lesions, the procedure is carried out several times, until they disappear completely.
- In the most severe cases, the cervix is amputated with its further plastic reconstruction.
Leukoplakia and pregnancy
In some women, leukoplakia is already detected during pregnancy. Immediately it is worth saying that the disease is not a direct threat to the child. Of course, there is a risk of premature birth, so the patient should be under the constant supervision of a doctor.
However, leukoplakia during pregnancy is a risk for a woman. The fact is that fluctuations in the hormonal background and changes in the functioning of the immune system can cause malignant degeneration. That is why it is so important to diagnose and eliminate the disease during pregnancy planning.
Preventive actions
Unfortunately, there is no medicine that can permanently protect against such a disease. Therefore, the prevention of leukoplakia boils down to regular preventive examinations by a gynecologist. It is recommended to use protective equipment during sexual intercourse, to make timely tests and smears for various infections and inflammatory diseases, and if they are detected, take a course of treatment on time. Naturally, it welcomes the strengthening of the immune system, as well as proper nutrition, a moderately active lifestyle and other recreational activities.
Predictions for Patients
In the absence of malignant tissue degeneration, treatment is possible - it is extremely important to determine and eliminate the cause of leukoplakia and only then remove the changed areas. Such therapy, as a rule, ends with a full recovery. The first two years after treatment, the patient is required to undergo colposcopy every six months - this makes it possible to detect relapse at an early stage. Unfortunately, if the root cause of the disease has not been eliminated, then it is highly likely that the disease will pass into cervical cancer.
Leukoplakia (treatment): reviews of doctors and patients
Today, many women go through the process of treating this disease. How fast is the body’s recovery after cervical leukoplakia has been detected? Reviews indicate that the removal of keratinized areas is the fastest and easiest part of therapy. The process of identifying and eliminating the causes of the disease (hormonal therapy, correction of immunity, treatment of inflammatory diseases and infections) takes much more time and energy. According to statistics, most women manage to completely cope with the disease, especially if the process of tissue change was identified in the early stages. After treatment, patients most often can count on fertilization, normal pregnancy and a full sexual life.