Women's Health
Women's health relates specifically to human female anatomy and associated health issues.
This mostly relates to such things as female genitalia and breasts or to certain side effects caused by the wrong hormones or hormone levels in, females. Women's health issues include menstruation, maternal health, contraception, menopause and breast cancer and giving birth to children. These health issues can often relate indirectly to some medical situations in which women face problems indirectly concerning their biology. In some countries access to medical treatment is sometimes gender biased. Although poverty is also an important factor preventing positive health outcomes for both men and women, poverty often leads to a higher burden on women and girls’ health due to, for example, poor quality of food (malnutrition) and use of unsafe cooking fuels. For example, women and girls face increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. There are also many social and cultural reasons preventing women and girls from obtaining proper health care and preventing them from getting the best available medical treatment These factors include
Research has demonstrated significant biological differences between the sexes in rates of susceptibility, symptoms and response to treatment in many major areas of health, including heart disease and some cancers. Some health and medical researchers, In Particular, the Society for Women's Health Research in the United States, often define women's health to be more than just issues specific of the human female anatomy, these issues are specific to areas where biological sex differences between women and men exist. The changing social views of biased health treatment along with the advancing acknowledgement by world leaders and medical authorities that gender is a social determinant of health is slowly helping to establish women's health service delivery in more countries around the world. Women's health services such as Leichhardt Women's Community Health Centre which was established in 1974 and was the first women's health centre established in Australia is one example of women's health advocate approach to service delivery. Medical and biological factors affecting women’s health. Breast cancer awareness Knowing what your breasts look and feel like, and checking them regularly, may help you know if there is something going wrong. Learn what to look for, like new lumps and changes in breast shape. All changes are not a sign of breast cancer but it is best to get any changes professionally screened. Finding signs of cancer early can mean more effective treatment. Learning what your breasts usually feel like will help you to find of any abnormal changes. Not all changes are a sign of breast cancer. Women may sometimes get cysts or thickening of their breast tissue, but this is often normal. Get to know what your breasts look and feel like as their look and feel can change at different times during a menstrual cycle. Before a period starts the milk-producing tissue in the breast becomes active. Some women often feel that their breasts may get tender and lumpy at this time, especially near their armpits. Sometime during or after menopause, activity in the milk-producing tissue will cease. Normal breasts often feel soft, less firm with none of the usual lumps. After a hysterectomy (removal of the womb), the breasts normally still have the same monthly changes until the time when menstruation would have stopped naturally. If you are 50 or over you should regularly have breast screening. Being breast aware means: examining your breasts for changes
Be aware of the following changes in your breasts:
Menopause Most women will experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, but each woman will not be the same and most will experience something during this stage of their life. Menopause is the part of life when a woman's monthly periods no longer occur. This happens when women get older they slowly run out of eggs. Some scientists believe this occurs as a natural protection for women and their children from the dangers of elderly childbearing. This is often the most unsettling part of a woman's life, but many women experience it with no problems. Menopause doesn't happen at a particular age or last for any defined period of time, and it often induces different symptoms in different women, both physically and emotionally. When will I experience menopause? The average age women go through their menopause is 52, but a woman could start to experience menopausal symptoms between the ages of 45 and 55. Some medical conditions may cause their menopause to happen much earlier in life, sometimes in women ages 25 or younger, in extreme cases it can occur during childhood. This is often termed as 'premature ovarian failure' (POF). Menopause symptoms Changes in a woman’s hormone levels can often cause different symptoms. An estimation of around two-thirds of women will experience the most common symptoms of hot flushes and night sweats. Although some also report tiredness, lack of energy, a reduced interest in sex and psychological symptoms, including depression. Long-term effects of the menopause may also include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Heart disease after menopause Cardiovascular disease describes any disease of the heart or blood vessels, including and strokes and heart attacks that are primarily caused by blocked arteries. This is the most common cause of mortalities in women over the age of 60 and evidence has been found to suggest that women are much more likely to get blocked arteries after the menopause. Osteoporosis after menopause Osteoporosis is a change in bone density and architecture. Bone strength depends on bone tissue thickness and structure. Because of this the reduced amount of minerals in the bone and slower production or replacement of bone cells causes weakening of the bones. This will happen to everybody as they age but in women the change occurs more rapidly after menopause. This is the main reason that 1 in 3 women have osteoporosis compared with only 1 in 12 men. Osteoporosis mainly increases the risk of breaking bones, especially those in the spine, wrist or hips. Relief during Menopause. Menopause can be treated using Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) this sometimes helps protect women from osteoporosis, by replacing the oestrogen lost during the menopause and, therefore, protecting bones. HRT is also used for controlling menopausal symptoms, but it can sometimes increase the risk of developing breast cancer and deep vein thrombosis. A change of diet and more exercise may also help with the symptoms during menopause. Childbirth Getting pregnant and having a child can have a great effect on a women's health.Changes in hormones during pregnancy can produce side effects including morning sickness,cravings for certain foods and more. Some common physical changes and health problems are listed below. |
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