Women’s Wellness: The effects of symptomatology

Symptomatology is the branch of medical science that focuses on the study of disease and overall symptom patterns shown by a patient or associated with a specific disease. This is important, especially for women, where care can often be informed on the basis of symptoms and signs.

It’s central to understand that not all conditions can be detected early on. A symptom is something an individual experiences, while a sign is something a medical professional notices. Subjective symptoms can only be known if acknowledged by the individual experiencing those conditions and cannot alone constitute a diagnosis.

For example, pelvic pain, irregular periods, brain fog and fatigue are all considered symptoms. Objective symptoms are those clear to the observer and called physical signs such as pulse rates and temperatures.

No matter who observes the symptoms or signs, it is the body’s way of signaling something might not be functioning properly. Each body creates symptoms and signs uniquely, and every woman reacts in a unique way. Some experiencing the conditions show no symptoms at all. Another person may be hypersensitive to the signs and symptoms experienced.

Everyone is different, which can pose challenges for identifying treatment. As a physician, it’s important to know our patients to discern between what is an alert versus a non-urgent concern. One symptom by itself usually means very little. It is its relationship to other symptoms that may be significant.

For instance, frequent bathroom visits and frequently having to start and stop while using the bathroom may indicate pelvic floor dysfunction, while a feeling of heaviness around the lower tummy or a dragging discomfort in the reproductive organs could lead one to suspect something causing pelvic organ prolapse. Whether it is a symptom or sign, talking to your doctor is the first step.

As a physician, I rely on patients to share what symptoms or signs they may be experiencing. Ongoing appointments are recommended for the most accurate evaluation and success of treatment options.

It’s a must to understand a patient’s background, determining abnormal findings if any and weighing the patient’s problem(s) with the pattern of the known disease processes. It’s important to know your body and to “listen” to the signs it is giving to ensure health issues are not overlooked.

Dr. Terry Dunn is the owner of Foothills Urogynecology, a Denver-based practice specializing in women’s health. To learn more, visit www.urogyns.com.

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