Female reproductive conditions

Benign breast disease

Benign breast disease (benign breast conditions): noncancerous breast changes including cysts, fibroadenomas, fibrocystic changes, mastalgia, and mastitis; risk of later breast cancer depends on histology, from no elevation for nonproliferative lesions to roughly four-fold for atypical hyperplasia.

Benign endometrial stromal nodule

Benign endometrial stromal nodule (ESN), also called benign endometrial stromal neoplasm, is a non-infiltrating benign uterine mesenchymal tumor resembling proliferative-phase endometrial stroma, defined by pushing margins, absent lymphovascular invasion, CD10 positivity, and JAZF1-SUZ12 fusions.

Benign neoplasm of ovary

Benign neoplasm of ovary (ICD-11 2F32) is a noncancerous ovarian tumor such as cystadenoma, dermoid cyst, endometrioma, or fibroma (2F32.1); ultrasound O-RADS stratifies risk and laparoscopy is standard surgery.

Benign neoplasm of the nipple

Benign neoplasm of the nipple (ICD-11 2F30.7): non-metastasizing nipple tumors without malignant features, mainly nipple adenoma (erosive adenomatosis) and intraductal papilloma, which can mimic Paget disease and need biopsy.

Breast abscess

Breast abscess, also called mammary or puerperal abscess (ICD-11 GB21.0), is a localized pus collection in the breast, usually complicating mastitis; treated by aspiration or incision and drainage with antibiotics, nonlactational forms recur in 25-57%.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer, cancer arising in breast duct or lobule cells, is the most common cancer in women and leading cause of female cancer death; 2.43 million new cases in 2024, five-year survival over 90% in high-income countries versus about 40% in South Africa.

Breast hypertrophy

Breast hypertrophy (macromastia, gigantomastia) is excessive benign breast tissue growth in females, defined by over 5 pounds or 3% body weight excess, treated with medication or reduction surgery.

Carcinoma in situ of endometrium

Carcinoma in situ of endometrium (ICD-11 2E67.0, ICD-10-CM D07.0): abnormal cancer-like cells confined to the uterine lining without invasion; covers the legacy term for endometrial precancer (AH/EIN) and serous endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma.

Carcinoma in situ of vagina

Carcinoma in situ of vagina, also called VaIN 3 or vaginal HSIL, is a full-thickness noninvasive HPV-associated precancerous vaginal lesion, rare (0.2–2 per 100,000 women yearly), treated by laser, excision, brachytherapy, or topical agents.

Carcinomas of ovary

Carcinomas of ovary (ICD-11 2C73.0), malignant epithelial ovarian tumors grouped with fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer; five WHO histotypes, high-grade serous most common, treated with surgery and platinum-taxane chemotherapy.

Carcinosarcoma of the cervix uteri

Carcinosarcoma of the cervix uteri, or cervical carcinosarcoma, is a rare, aggressive cervical cancer with both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components, accounting for less than 1% of cervical cancers.

Carcinosarcoma of the corpus uteri

Uterine carcinosarcoma, formerly malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT), is a rare aggressive biphasic uterine cancer with malignant epithelial and sarcoma components, TP53-mutated, treated by surgical staging plus carboplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy, with poor survival.

Catamenial pneumothorax

Catamenial pneumothorax is recurrent lung collapse in reproductive-age women within 72 hours before or after menstruation, the most common form of thoracic endometriosis syndrome, usually right-sided, treated with VATS, pleurodesis, diaphragm repair, and hormonal therapy.

Cervical ectropion

Cervical ectropion (cervical ectopy, erosion): benign eversion of glandular columnar cells onto the outer cervix, linked to estrogen, pregnancy, and the pill; causes bleeding and discharge, not cancer, treatable by cautery.

Cervicitis

Cervicitis is inflammation of the cervix, usually caused by infection such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, and is frequently asymptomatic; it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.

Charles B. Hammond

Charles B. Hammond (1936–2021) was an American gynecologic oncologist and reproductive endocrinologist at Duke University, known for pioneering chemotherapy treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease and chairing Duke's obstetrics department.

Charles J. Lockwood

Charles J. Lockwood is an American obstetrician-gynecologist who leads USF Health and is known for discovering fetal fibronectin, the first biochemical predictor of preterm birth.

Christiane Völling

Christiane Völling, German intersex woman, first person known to win a lawsuit over non-consensual sex reassignment surgery; Cologne Regional Court awarded her 100,000 euros in 2008 for a 1977 operation removing her female organs.

Chronic intervillositis of unknown etiology

Chronic intervillositis of unknown etiology (CIUE), also called chronic histiocytic intervillositis, is a rare placental inflammatory disorder with maternal macrophage infiltration of the intervillous space, causing miscarriage, growth restriction, stillbirth, and recurrence up to 25%.

Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease

Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (chronic PID, ICD-11 GA05.1) is persistent inflammation and scarring of the female upper genital tract after ascending infection, causing pelvic adhesions, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy risk.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary (ovarian clear cell carcinoma, OCCC, ORPHA:398971) is a rare epithelial ovarian cancer, ~10% of EOC, linked to endometriosis, ARID1A/PIK3CA mutations, good early-stage prognosis, and platinum-resistant advanced disease.

Clinical hyperandrogenism

Clinical hyperandrogenism (ICD-11 5A80.0) is the visible sign complex of androgen excess in women: hirsutism, acne, and androgenic alopecia. PCOS is the leading cause; virilization suggests tumor.

Coffin birth

Coffin birth, or postmortem fetal extrusion, is the gas-driven expulsion of a fetus from a decomposing pregnant woman's body, documented in forensic cases and rare archaeological burials such as San Genesio, Tuscany.

Complete septate uterus

Complete septate uterus (total septate uterus, ORPHA:180126, ICD-10 Q51.2) is a congenital malformation where a septum runs from the uterine fundus to the cervical os, raising miscarriage risk; treated by hysteroscopic resection.

Complete uterovaginal prolapse

Complete uterovaginal prolapse (procidentia, ICD-11 GC40.34) is stage 3-4 descent of uterus, cervix, and upper vagina below the hymen or with complete eversion, caused mainly by childbirth-related pelvic floor damage and treated with pessaries or prolapse surgery.

Corpus luteum cyst

Corpus luteum cyst (corpus luteal cyst): a functional ovarian cyst formed when the post-ovulation corpus luteum fills with fluid or blood instead of regressing; usually 1–3 cm, resolves spontaneously, hemorrhagic rupture is the main complication.

Cyclic pelvic pain

Cyclic pelvic pain (ICD-11 GA34.20), also called mittelschmerz or ovulatory pain, is recurrent pelvic pain tied to the menstrual cycle; dysmenorrhea is its commonest cause, with endometriosis the key secondary differential.

Cyclofenil

Cyclofenil (Ondogyne, Fertodur, F-6066) is a non-steroidal ovulation inducer related to clomiphene, once used for female infertility and amenorrhea, now a WADA-prohibited anti-estrogen.

Cystocele

Prolapse of anterior vaginal wall, also called cystocele or prolapsed bladder: descent of the bladder and front vaginal wall from pelvic floor weakness. Common after vaginal childbirth; treated with pelvic floor exercises, pessaries, or anterior colporrhaphy.