The reason why women’s health comes with a pinch of secrecy is something I will never understand. While men’s health comes with a brush of bravado that even while they are suffering, they still find a way to man up. Today the focus is to create more awareness on women’s health and break the stigma that hovers around women health.
Here are a major health complication that has to do with the biological make-up of women and their special needs.
Menstrual Cycle: Mayoclinic defines menstrual cycle as the monthly series of changes the body goes through to prepare for pregnancy. Every month, one of the ovaries releases an egg. This is called ovulation. When this egg is not fertilized during ovulation, the lining of the uterus sheds through the vagina. This is called menstrual period. Many people will hardly say the word as though it is an abomination to say it; meanwhile, it is just a natural thing that the body goes through to keep if running smoothly.
How easy it is for us to change the oil in our vehicles is exactly how easy it should be for anyone going through their menstrual period. Note that it is a time to show compassion and kindness even when you do not understand how it works. Instead of the whole shush! shush! around menstrual period, it is time to talk about it and break the stigma.
The pain of menstrual period is known as dysmenorrhea and ranges from lower pain levels to high pain levels. Menstrual cramps sets in after ovulation as sign that the released egg was not fertilized. Medical News Today in their blog opined that in about 10% of people who menstruate, the discomfort is severe enough to affect daily life for 1-3 days each month. These are some symptoms they experience: pain, nausea and vomiting, sweating, dizziness, diarrhea, bloating, headaches etc. It is only fair to show kindness when women go through these biological changes.
Another elephant in the room is menopause and this is another stigma to break.
Menopause: From the latters we can deduct meno and pause, which implies a pause in meno. Cleveland Clinic defined that menopause is a point in time when a person has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Menopause is a natural part of aging and marks the end of reproductive years. It happens at age 52 on averages.
That moment when ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones for 12 consecutive months. And menopause can also occur due to surgery and medical treatment, it is called induced menopause. This is the case of everything that has a beginning also has an ending. According to Cleveland Clinic, menopause is the permanent ending of menstruation. And it is divided into three stages: Perimenopause which begins ten years before menopause, which usually starts in your forties. Menopause is the point when you no longer have menstrual periods, when you have gone without it for twelve consecutive months. Postmenopause is the time after the menopause. You stay in postmenopause for the rest of your life. And people in this stage are at risk of osteoporosis and heart disease due to low estrogen levels.
Some symptoms associated with menopause includes: irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia, emotional changes, breasttenderness, hair loss, weight gain etc. It is only imperative that you show kindness at all times because people already go through a lot.
In conclusion, it is essential to end the secrecy surrounding women’s health issues and foster a culture of openness and understanding. By learning more about the menstrual cycle, menopause, and other unique health challenges faced by women, we can break the stigma and promote compassion and support.
Awareness and education are keys to creating a more informed and empathetic society, one where women’s health is discussed freely and respected. Let’s work together to bring these conversations to the forefront and ensure that women’s health is a priority for everyone. Stay tuned, as we dive next into men’s health and all their bravado.