Benign conditions

Many women develop lumps in their breasts that can be benign or cancerous. Often, benign lumps are caused by fibrocystic changes, cysts, discharge, or microcalcifications.

Keloids are raised, lumpy scars that form when scar tissue grows excessively after a skin injury, such as a cut, burn, surgical incision, piercing, or bug bite. They are benign (non-cancerous), non-contagious, and can sometimes cause discomfort like itching or tenderness.

Thyroid disease refers to conditions that affect how the thyroid gland produces hormones, leading to either too much (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism) thyroxine. These imbalances can impact metabolism and cause symptoms like weight changes or irregular heartbeat.

Parathyroid disease involves disorders where the parathyroid glands produce too much or too little parathyroid hormone (PTH), affecting calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood. Hyperparathyroidism causes high calcium and low bone density, often treated with surgery or monitored if mild. Hypoparathyroidism leads to low calcium and high phosphorus.

Thyroid goiters are when the thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, is larger than normal. When the thyroid is enlarged, it can impact the hormones that play a role in maintaining metabolism, body temperature, digestion, heart rate, and mood. Roughly 5% of people in the United States have a thyroid goiter.

Thyroid nodules are small, solid, or fluid-filled lumps found in your thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. While most thyroid nodules are benign (noncancerous), roughly 5% to 15% of them can be cancerous.

Achalasia is a swallowing disorder that affects the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. It happens when nerve problems stop the esophagus from moving food and liquids into the stomach properly, causing them to build up and sometimes come back up with a bitter taste.

Diverticular disease includes several conditions that involve small pouches, called diverticula, forming in the colon. These include diverticulosis (pouches without symptoms), diverticulitis (pouches that become inflamed or infected), and diverticular bleeding, when a blood vessel in a pouch breaks and causes bleeding

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus, causing heartburn and irritation. Occasional acid reflux is common, but when it happens often, it can develop into GERD.

A hernia is a weakness or defect in the wall of the abdomen. There are several types and each is treated slightly different. The most common are inguinal and incisional. Inguinal hernias are found in the groin and may need to be repaired. Incisional hernias are found the abdomen wall, the navel, or at prior incision sites and only need to be repaired if they are painful or become large.

Most common problems that cause pain in the gallbladder are from stones, but occasionally symptoms can arise because the gallbladder is not contracting normally. Gallstones create blockage in the gallbladder and prevent it from functioning normally.

Anemia is a common blood condition that affects over 3 million Americans. It happens when the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen. These cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that moves oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Doctors diagnose anemia with a blood test that measures hemoglobin levels, which are lower than normal in people with this condition.

Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which the blood has too few platelets. Platelets are small, colorless cells that help stop bleeding by forming clots when blood vessels are injured. This condition can develop from diseases or medications that affect how platelets are made, circulate, or break down, and it can occur in both children and adults.

Sickle cell disease, also called sickle cell anemia, is an inherited condition that affects hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Because of a genetic change, the red blood cells become stiff and shaped like crescents or “sickles.” These misshaped cells can block blood flow and reduce oxygen delivery throughout the body.

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects how the body makes hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. There are two main types, alpha and beta thalassemia.. The severity can range from mild to severe depending on how much hemoglobin is produced. Low hemoglobin levels can cause anemia, meaning there are fewer healthy red blood cells.

Neutropenia means having too few white blood cells, which makes it harder for the body to fight infections. It’s sometimes called low WBC, leukopenia, or being immunocompromised. The condition can be caused by cancer, treatments like chemotherapy, or other health issues such as infections, immune diseases, or vitamin deficiencies. In some people, the cause isn’t known, which is called chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN).

Hemophilia is a rare inherited disorder where the blood doesn’t clot properly because it lacks certain clotting factors. While minor cuts are usually not dangerous, people with severe hemophilia can experience internal bleeding, especially in joints such as the knees, ankles, and elbows, which can lead to tissue or organ damage.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs. It can cause pain or swelling, though some people may not have symptoms. DVT can develop from medical conditions that affect blood clotting or from long periods of immobility, such as during travel, bed rest, or recovery after surgery or illness.

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious condition in which a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the lungs, often traveling from another part of the body, such as the leg or arm. This blockage limits blood flow, lowers oxygen levels, and increases pressure in the lung’s arteries. PE is a medical emergency that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment.

Enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a common condition that causes urinary symptoms like frequent urination and difficulty starting urination. It typically results from hormonal changes

Prostatitis is an inflammation or infection of the prostate gland.  It can affect men of any age.  The most common urological problem in men aged 50 and older, prostatitis is not contagious and is not transmitted during sex. 

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection suitable for sexual activity. It can be caused by physical or psychological factors

Impotence, often synonymous with erectile dysfunction, is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection, which can impact fertility.

Infertility refers to the inability to conceive after a year of unprotected sex, affecting both men and women.

A slight natural curve to the erect penis is usually normal. But curvature that causes pain and difficulty with intercourse is a problem. The development of painful curvature is called Peyronie’s disease. Peyronie’s disease is due to a plaque (scar) that forms inside the penis.

Low testosterone (Low T) is a common but often overlooked condition affecting millions of men, especially starting in their 30s and worsening with age. It can cause symptoms like low sex drive, fatigue, depression, weight gain, muscle loss, and irritability. Many men are treated for other issues without realizing Low T may be the cause. A simple blood test can confirm the diagnosis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. This leads to pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced mobility in the affected joints. 

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition that affects the connective tissue beneath the skin of the palm and fingers. It causes the fingers, usually the ring and little fingers, to bend inward toward the palm, making it difficult to fully extend them. This happens due to the thickening and tightening of the fascia, which is the tissue that connects muscles to skin.

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain, particularly in people who are active or on their feet for long periods. It occurs when the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes, becomes inflamed or irritated.

Chronic cystitis is a long-term bladder inflammation that leads to pelvic pain and frequent urination, often caused by factors like interstitial cystitis and recurrent UTIs.

Kidney and urinary stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys or urinary tract, causing severe pain and potential blockage. They can result from factors like dehydration and diet.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) include issues like frequent urination, urgency, and weak urine flow which can arise from conditions such as an enlarged prostate or bladder dysfunction.

Overactive bladder is a condition characterized by a sudden urge to urinate frequently, often leading to incontinence. It can result from various factors such as nerve issues.

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine, which can range from occasional leaks to complete loss of control. It may be caused by factors such as weak pelvic muscles or neurological conditions.

A UTI is an infection that develops in any area of the urinary system, which includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters (tubes that connect a kidney to the bladder) or the urethra (tube through which urine exits the body). In most cases, UTIs develop in the bladder or urethra.

Hematuria is the presence of blood, specifically red blood cells, in the urine.  Whether the blood is visible only under a microscope or visible to the naked eye, hematuria is a sign that something is causing bleeding in the genitourinary tract: the kidneys, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder (ureters), the prostate gland (in men), the bladder, or the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body (urethra).