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Hormonal disorders in women can significantly impact various aspects of health, and one of the most concerning consequences is infertility. Hormones act as chemical messengers, regulating the menstrual cycle, ovulation, and the ability to conceive. When these hormones are imbalanced, it can disrupt the delicate process necessary for pregnancy. This blog aims to provide information on hormonal disorders affecting women’s fertility and their symptoms, diagnosis, and management strategies.

Understanding Hormonal Imbalance and Infertility

Hormonal imbalances and disorders in women occur when there is too much or too little of one or more hormones in the bloodstream. These imbalances can affect the complex processes involved in female reproduction. For instance, hormones regulate the growth and release of an egg, the movement of the egg through the fallopian tube, and the thickening of the uterine lining for implantation. Any disruption in these hormonal signals can make it difficult to conceive.

Common Hormonal Disorders Affecting Fertility

Several hormonal disorders can lead to infertility in women. The most common disorders that we treat at our Webster Speciality hospital, include:

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS):PCOS is a leading cause of female infertility. It causes a hormone imbalance that affects ovulation. Women with PCOS may have high levels of androgens, which can cause irregular periods, excess hair growth, and acne.
• Hypothalamic Dysfunction:The hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain produce hormones that stimulate ovulation. Stress, weight fluctuations, and other factors can disrupt the production of these hormones, leading to irregular or absent periods.
• Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI):Also known as premature ovarian failure, POI occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs and lower estrogen production before age 40.
• Hyperprolactinemia:Excess production of prolactin by the pituitary gland can reduce estrogen production and interfere with ovulation.

Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

The symptoms of hormonal imbalance can vary depending on the specific disorder. Common symptoms include:

• Irregular or absent periods
• Heavy or painful periods
• Spotting between periods
• Increased hair growth on the face, neck, chest, or back
• Acne
• Unexplained weight gain or loss
• Hair loss
• Fatigue
• Mood swings
• Infertility

Diagnosis and Testing

If you are experiencing difficulty getting pregnant, your doctor at our League city surgical hospital, may recommend hormone testing to check for imbalances. This typically involves blood tests to measure the levels of various hormones, including:

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)
• Estrogen
• Progesterone
• Testosterone
• Prolactin
• Thyroid hormoneManagement Strategies

Treatment for hormonal imbalances and disorders that might cause infertility depends on the underlying cause. Common management strategies include:

• Medications:Medications can help regulate hormone levels, induce ovulation, or treat specific conditions like PCOS.
• Lifestyle Modifications:Weight loss, diet changes, and regular exercise can sometimes help normalize hormone levels and improve fertility.
• Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART):If other treatments are unsuccessful, ART procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be an option.

Seeking Help

If you are concerned about hormonal disorders and their impact on your fertility, it’s important to seek medical advice. A gynecologist can help diagnose the underlying cause of your infertility and recommend appropriate treatment options.

Houston Physicians’ Hospital is a hospital in Webster, TX, that offers comprehensive gynecological services. Finding the right healthcare provider is crucial for addressing hormonal disorders and achieving your reproductive goals. You can explore our website to find a qualified gynecologist who can provide personalized care and support.

The physicians at Houston Physicians Hospital specialize in hormonal disorders in women. They can provide an accurate diagnosis and discuss appropriate treatment strategies to help those struggling with infertility and imbalances.

On the Reproductive Health services page, you can scroll down and find a gynecologist who’s right for you. Then click their link to visit their website and make an appointment.

Voiding dysfunction refers to a range of conditions that affect the bladder’s ability to store and release urine. This can manifest as difficulty urinating, frequent urination, urgency, incontinence, or a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. Understanding the available treatment options at our surgical hospital in Webster is crucial for managing this condition and improving quality of life.

Conservative Therapies

For mild to moderate cases, conservative approaches are often the first line of treatment used by our urologists in Webster, TX. These methods aim to improve bladder control and function without invasive procedures.

• Lifestyle Modifications: Changes in diet and fluid intake can significantly impact bladder function. Reducing consumption of caffeine and alcohol, which are diuretics, can decrease urinary frequency and urgency. Managing fluid intake, especially before bedtime, can also help.
• Bladder Training: This technique involves scheduled voiding to retrain the bladder to hold more urine. Over time, the intervals between bathroom visits are gradually increased.
• Pelvic Floor Therapy: Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through exercises, such as Kegel exercises, can improve bladder control and reduce incontinence. A physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor dysfunction can provide guidance and support.
• Medications: Several medications can help manage the symptoms of voiding dysfunction. Alpha-blockers can relax the muscles around the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate. Anticholinergics can reduce bladder spasms and urgency.

Interventional Treatments

If conservative therapies are not sufficient, more interventional treatments may be considered.

• Botox Injections: Injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) into the bladder muscle can help relax it and reduce urgency and frequency. This treatment is typically used for overactive bladder.
• Neuromodulation: This therapy involves stimulating nerves that control bladder function. Sacral neuromodulation uses a small implanted device to send electrical impulses to the sacral nerves in the lower back. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is a less invasive technique that stimulates the tibial nerve in the ankle.
• Catheterization: For individuals who have difficulty emptying their bladder completely, intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) may be necessary. This involves inserting a thin tube into the urethra to drain urine.

Surgical Options

In some cases, surgery may be required to address the underlying causes of voiding dysfunction.

• Urethral Dilation: This procedure widens a narrowed urethra, making it easier to urinate.
• Artificial Urinary Sphincter: This device is surgically implanted to control urine flow in individuals with severe incontinence.
• Sling Surgery: This procedure is primarily used to treat stress urinary incontinence in women. A strip of mesh is placed under the urethra to provide support.

Finding the Right Care

Voiding dysfunction affects more and more Americans, but your doctor can help you find releif. If you are experiencing symptoms, it’s essential to consult with a urologist in Webster, TX, to determine the right course of action for your specific condition. Our Webster surgical hospital offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for a wide range of urological issues.

To find a qualified urologist and explore treatment options, consider visiting Houston Physicians’ Hospital’s website.

On the Urology services page, you can scroll down and find a urologist who’s right for you. Then click their link to visit their website and make

The pituitary gland, a diminutive but indispensable endocrine gland nestled at the base of the brain, plays a pivotal role in regulating a myriad of essential bodily functions. This master gland secretes a variety of hormones that govern growth, metabolism, reproduction, stress response, and fluid balance.

Pituitary tumors, abnormal growths that develop on the pituitary gland, can disrupt the delicate hormonal balance orchestrated by this gland, leading to a spectrum of health complications. While not all pituitary tumors necessitate surgical intervention, surgery remains a critical treatment modality in specific clinical scenarios.

Understanding Pituitary Tumors

Pituitary tumors are predominantly benign, i.e., they are noncancerous growths that do not typically spread to other parts of the body. However, their location and their potential to interfere with pituitary function make them a significant health concern.

Pituitary tumors are classified into two main categories, based on their hormonal activity:

• Functioning Tumors:These tumors are characterized by their ability to secrete excess amounts of one or more pituitary hormones.
• Nonfunctioning Tumors:These tumors, in contrast, do not secrete excess hormones. They may remain asymptomatic for extended periods and are often discovered incidentally during imaging studies performed for other reasons.

The Diagnostic Pathway for Pituitary Tumors

The diagnosis of a pituitary tumor typically involves a combination of clinical evaluation, hormonal testing, and advanced imaging techniques:

• Hormone Tests:Blood and urine tests are essential to measure the levels of various pituitary hormones and identify any hormonal excesses or deficiencies.
• Imaging Tests:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard imaging modality for visualizing the pituitary gland and detecting pituitary tumors.
• Vision Tests:Visual field testing is performed to assess for any visual impairments caused by compression of the optic nerves.

When Is Surgery the Answer?

The decision to pursue surgery for a pituitary tumor is a complex one, requiring careful consideration of several factors.

Surgery is typically considered when:

• The Tumor Is Causing Significant Symptoms:When the tumor is responsible for bothersome or debilitating symptoms, such as persistent headaches, vision problems, or hormonal imbalances that are not adequately controlled with medication, surgery may be recommended to alleviate these symptoms.
• The Tumor Is Compressing the Optic Nerves and Threatening Vision:Compression of the optic nerves poses a serious risk to vision. Surgery is often necessary to decompress the optic nerves and prevent or reverse vision loss.
• The Tumor Is a Functioning Tumor That Is Producing Excess Hormones:In cases where a functioning tumor is secreting excess hormones and causing significant health problems, surgery may be performed to remove the tumor and restore normal hormone levels.

Surgical Approaches to Pituitary Tumors

The surgical approach to a pituitary tumor depends on its size, location, and relationship to surrounding structures.

The two main surgical techniques are:

• Transsphenoidal Surgery:This is the most common and preferred surgical approach for most pituitary tumors. It is a minimally invasive procedure that involves accessing the pituitary gland through the nasal passages and sphenoid sinus (an air-filled space behind the nasal cavity).
• Craniotomy:In rare cases, a craniotomy, which involves opening the skull, may be necessary for very large or complex tumors that cannot be safely removed through the transsphenoidal approach.

Seeking Expert Care

If you have been diagnosed with a pituitary tumor or are experiencing symptoms that may suggest a pituitary tumor, it is important to seek evaluation and treatment from a specialized medical center with expertise in pituitary disorders.

The physicians at Houston Physicians Hospital can help.

On the page of Neurosurgery and Spine Specialist in Webster, you can scroll down and find a physician who’s right for you. Then click their link to visit their website and make an appointment.

The pelvic floor, a complex network of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue forms a supportive sling across the base of the pelvis. This structure plays a vital role in supporting the pelvic organs, including the bladder, bowel, uterus (in women), and prostate gland (in men).

Beyond organ support, the pelvic floor is essential for maintaining continence, facilitating sexual function, and contributing to core stability. Dysfunction in this intricate system can lead to a spectrum of challenging conditions, significantly impacting an individual’s quality of life.

Pelvic floor therapy offers a range of interventions to address these issues, and biofeedback has emerged as a sophisticated and effective tool within this specialized field.

Biofeedback: A Technology-Driven Approach to Retraining

Biofeedback is a noninvasive therapeutic technique that empowers individuals to develop heightened awareness and voluntary control over their physiological processes.

In the context of pelvic floor therapy, biofeedback employs specialized sensors to monitor the activity of the pelvic floor muscles. These sensors, which may be surface electrodes or internal sensors, detect muscle contractions and relaxation. The information gathered is then translated into a user-friendly format.

This immediate and objective feedback loop is instrumental in helping patients learn to identify, isolate, contract, and relax their pelvic floor muscles correctly.

The Science of Self-Regulation

Biofeedback operates on the principles of operant conditioning, a fundamental learning theory that posits that behavior is modified by its consequences. By providing immediate and contingent feedback on muscle activity, biofeedback reinforces desired muscle responses.

For instance, if a patient is attempting to contract their pelvic floor muscles, the biofeedback display will provide positive reinforcement when the contraction is performed correctly, encouraging repetition of that behavior. Conversely, if the patient is contracting the wrong muscles or not contracting effectively, the feedback will indicate this, allowing them to adjust their efforts.

Through consistent practice and repetition, patients can gradually refine their muscle control and achieve greater self-regulation of their pelvic floor function.

Applications of Biofeedback in Pelvic Floor Therapy

Biofeedback has demonstrated efficacy in addressing a wide spectrum of pelvic floor conditions:

• Incontinence:Biofeedback is a valuable tool for individuals experiencing urinary or fecal incontinence. By providing visual or auditory feedback on muscle activity, it helps patients learn to identify and strengthen the specific muscles that control the flow of urine or stool.
• Pelvic Pain:For individuals grappling with chronic pelvic pain, often associated with hypertonic or overly tight pelvic floor muscles, biofeedback can facilitate muscle relaxation techniques. The feedback allows patients to visualize their muscle tension and learn to consciously release it.
• Constipation:Biofeedback can be employed to improve the coordination of muscles involved in bowel movements. By providing feedback on muscle activity during defecation, it can help patients learn to relax the appropriate muscles and facilitate effective bowel evacuation.
• Sexual Dysfunction:Biofeedback can be a component of treatment for certain types of sexual dysfunction, such as dyspareunia (painful intercourse) or vaginismus (involuntary muscle spasms of the vagina). By enhancing muscle function and awareness, it can contribute to improved sexual comfort and function.

Recommended Read: Understanding Pelvic Floor Disorders in Women

The Multifaceted Benefits of Biofeedback in Pelvic Floor Therapy

Biofeedback offers a range of advantages in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction:

• Enhanced Awareness:Biofeedback provides patients with a unique and objective window into their pelvic floor muscle activity, fostering a deeper understanding of how these muscles function and how they contribute to various bodily processes.
• Improved Muscle Control:Through the real-time feedback provided by biofeedback, patients can develop more precise and effective control over their pelvic floor muscles, learning to contract and relax them with greater accuracy and coordination.
• Personalized Treatment:Biofeedback protocols can be tailored to the specific needs and challenges of each individual, allowing for a personalized and targeted approach to therapy.

Taking the First Step

If you are experiencing symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, such as incontinence, pelvic pain, or sexual problems, pelvic floor therapy with biofeedback may offer a viable and effective treatment option.

The physicians at Houston Physicians Hospital specialize in pelvic health. They can provide an accurate diagnosis and discuss appropriate treatment strategies.

On the Pelvic Floor Therapy page, you can scroll down and find a physical therapy location near you. Then click on the location to make an appointment.

Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder, affects movement, causing tremors, stiffness, slowness, and balance problems. While medication can manage symptoms in the early stages, their effectiveness can decrease over time, and side effects can become challenging.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a promising treatment option for individuals with Parkinson’s disease who are experiencing motor fluctuations and other complications.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease: A Disruption in Movement

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing cells in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in controlling movement. As dopamine levels decline, the hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear.

Deep Brain Stimulation: A Neurological Intervention

DBS is a surgical procedure that involves implanting a small, pacemaker-like device that sends electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain that control movement. These electrical impulses help regulate the abnormal brain activity that causes Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

DBS does not cure Parkinson’s disease, but it can significantly reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for carefully selected individuals.

The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Brain Mapping:Before surgery, detailed brain imaging, such as MRI, is used to identify the precise brain targets for stimulation. These targets are typically the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or the globus pallidus interna (GPi), both of which are involved in movement control.
2. Electrode Implantation:During surgery, thin wires called electrodes are implanted into the targeted brain regions. The procedure is typically performed while the patient is awake to allow for neurological testing to ensure accurate placement.
3. Pulse Generator Implantation:A small pulse generator, similar to a pacemaker, is implanted under the skin in the chest. This generator sends electrical impulses to the electrodes in the brain.
4. Connecting Wires:Wires are tunneled under the skin to connect the electrodes in the brain to the pulse generator in the chest.
5. Programming:After surgery, the pulse generator is programmed to deliver the appropriate electrical stimulation. The settings are adjusted over time to optimize symptom control and minimize side effects.

Benefits of DBS for Parkinson’s Disease

DBS can provide significant benefits for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, including:

• Reduced Tremors:DBS is highly effective in reducing tremors, which are often a debilitating symptom of Parkinson’s disease.
• Decreased Rigidity and Stiffness:DBS can help alleviate muscle stiffness and rigidity, making movement easier.
• Improved Bradykinesia (Slowness of Movement):DBS can improve bradykinesia, allowing for smoother and faster movements.
• Reduced Dyskinesias (Involuntary Movements):DBS can help reduce dyskinesias, which are involuntary movements caused by long-term use of Parkinson’s medications.
• Decreased Medication Needs:DBS can often allow individuals to reduce their dosage of Parkinson’s medications, which can, in turn, reduce medication-related side effects.
• Improved Quality of Life:By reducing symptoms and improving function, DBS can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Who Is a Candidate for DBS?

DBS is not suitable for everyone with Parkinson’s disease.

Ideal candidates typically:

• Have Parkinson’s disease that is responsive to levodopa, a common Parkinson’s medication.
• Experience motor fluctuations, e.g., “on-off” periods, when medication effectiveness wears off.
• Develop dyskinesiasthat are difficult to manage with medication.
• Are in relatively good overall health and can tolerate surgery.

Your Partner in Neurological Health

The physicians at Webster Surgical Hospital are committed to providing quality neurological care for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. They offer advanced Parkinson’s treatment in Houston, including deep brain stimulation, to help patients manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

On the Deep Brain Stimulation page, you can scroll down and find a physician who’s right for you. Then click their link to visit their website and make an appointment.