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Women’s History Month is celebrated in many countries worldwide in March. It is a time when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic, or political.
In celebration of this month, DUBAWA delves into the multifaceted realm of women’s health, exploring the hurdles women encounter in their pursuit of wellness. We aim to illuminate the diverse issues that demand attention and action.
Sexual and Reproductive health
Sexual health refers to physical and emotional well-being. It includes the ability to be free from unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reproductive tract infections (RTIs), cancer and infertility, unintended pregnancy/ abortion, sexual dysfunction and all forms of sexual violence and coercion. Sexual health-related issues are wide-ranging and encompass sexual orientation and gender identity, sexual expression, relationships, and pleasure.
Reproductive health refers to the condition of the female reproductive system all through life stages. Timely and quality sexual and reproductive health services save lives. Maternal and newborn care, contraception and family planning, clinical and psychosocial services for survivors of gender-based violence, HIV prevention and treatment, and addressing the specific needs of different communities all promote individual rights and afford displaced persons the freedom to decide whether, when, and how often to have sex or get pregnant.
Despite advances, sexual and reproductive health services are not always available or comprehensive. Some reproductive health issues include Endometriosis, Gynecologic Cancer, Interstitial cystitis (IC), Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Sexual Violence (SV), and Fibroids.
- Endometriosis: this is a problem affecting a woman’s uterus. Endometriosis is when the kind of tissue that normally lines the uterus grows somewhere else. It can grow on the ovaries, behind the uterus, on the bowels, or on the bladder.
- Gynecologic Cancer: this is any type of cancer that starts in a woman’s reproductive organs. Gynecologic cancers begin in different places within a woman’s pelvis, which is the area below the stomach and in between the hip bones.
- Interstitial Cystitis (IC): is a chronic bladder condition resulting in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder or surrounding pelvic region. People with IC usually have inflamed or irritated bladder walls that can cause scarring and stiffening of the bladder.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Polycystic ovary syndrome happens when a woman’s ovaries or adrenal glands produce more male hormones than average. One result is that cysts (fluid-filled sacs) develop on the ovaries. Obese women are more likely to have PCOS. Women with PCOS are at increased risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. Symptoms may include irregular menstrual periods, Infertility, Pelvic pain, Excessive hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, or thighs, Weight gain, Acne or oily skin, and Patches of thickened skin.
- Sexual violence (SV): refers to sexual activity where consent is not obtained or freely given. Anyone can experience SV, but most victims are female. The person responsible for the violence is typically male and is usually someone known to the victim. The person can be, but is not limited to, a friend, coworker, neighbor, or family member.
- Pregnancy-related complications: Some women experience health problems during pregnancy. These complications can involve the mother’s health, the fetus’s health, or both. Even women who were healthy before getting pregnant can experience complications. Some of these complications include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm labour, depression and anxiety, miscarriage, etc.
Breast Health
Breast health begins with breast awareness. Being familiar with how your breasts usually feel makes it easier to detect when there’s a change. Over time, you’ll discover how your breasts change in sensitivity and texture depending on your menstrual cycle, age, and other factors. A major issue here is Breast cancer. This occurs when breast cells mutate and become cancerous cells that multiply and form tumours. Breast cancer typically affects women aged 50 and older, as well as younger women. While breast cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms, some common symptoms seen when it does are a change in the size, shape, or contour of the breast, mass, or lump, thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle, and a blood-stained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple.
Menopause and hormonal changes
Menopause is one point in a continuum of life stages for women and marks the end of their reproductive years. For most women, menopause is marked by the end of monthly menstruation due to loss of ovarian follicular function. This means that the ovaries stop releasing eggs for fertilisation. The hormonal changes associated with menopause can affect physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being.
The symptoms experienced during and following the menopausal transition vary substantially from person to person. Some have few, if any, symptoms. Symptoms can be severe for others and affect daily activities and quality of life. Some can experience symptoms for several years.
Symptoms associated with menopause include hot flushes and night sweats, changes in the regularity and flow of the menstrual cycle, culminating in cessation of menstruation;
vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse, difficulty sleeping/insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
Mental Health
Around one in five women have common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. While there can be many reasons why these develop, some risk factors like Life events and hormonal changes can affect women’s mental health, perinatal depression, Menopause, and sexual violence affect more women than men.
Some symptoms of mental disorders in women are persistent sadness or feelings of hopelessness, noticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetite, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, appetite or weight changes, Decreased energy or fatigue, extremely high and low moods, aches, headaches, or digestive problems without a clear cause, anger or irritability and social withdrawal.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
A urinary tract infection is an infection in any part of the urinary system, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract, the bladder, and the urethra.
Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than men. UTIs don’t always cause symptoms, but when they do, they may include: a strong urge to urinate that doesn’t go away, a burning feeling when urinating, urinating often, and passing small amounts of urine, urine that looks cloudy, urine that appears red, bright pink, or cola-coloured, signs of blood in the urine, pelvic pain in women especially in the centre of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone.
Risk factors for UTIs that are specific to women include female anatomy (women have a shorter urethra than men do. As a result, there’s less distance for bacteria to travel to reach the bladder), sexual activity (Being sexually active tends to lead to more UTIs. Having a new sexual partner also increases risk), some types of birth control (the use of diaphragms and spermicidal agents for birth control may increase the risk of UTIs, menopause (after menopause, a decline in circulating estrogen causes changes in the urinary tract. The changes can increase the risk of UTIs).
Experts Opinion
We spoke to a medical officer, Lynda Effiong-Agim, at the Chivar Specialist Hospital and Urology Centre, who explained that the most peculiar type of issue women face is breast cancer. She highlighted breastfeeding, quitting smoking, limiting or avoiding alcohol, weight control, regular physical activity, avoiding radiation exposure, healthy diet, and early detection of breast lumps by self-breast examination, clinical examination, and breast scans as preventive measures to reduce the risk of breast cancer to be
She also advised that women prioritise their mental health, an essential aspect of women’s health and wellness. She describes mental health as a fundamental human right.
“As important as this aspect of our health is, it is often given the least attention. In Nigeria in particular, people often find it difficult to recognise when one ‘s mental health suffers.” she wrote.
She concluded by noting that mental health can be treated and awareness is important to increase mental health.
We also spoke to Precious Newman, a pharmacist who advised that women should visit the hospital regularly when changes occur in the body and go for regular body check-ups. She also noted that women should include fruits and lots of water in their diets.
She listed physical exercise as a daily routine to stay fit and burn fats.
“Breast examination and mammogram, pelvic examinations especially from women aged 21-40 at least twice a year,” she wrote.
Ms Newman concluded that women should get enough sleep and rest, make time for themselves, prioritize nutrition, and know their system.
Conclusion
The myriad health issues women face are complex and multifaceted, requiring a holistic approach to address them effectively. However, progress can be made with increased awareness, advocacy, and investment in women’s health research and services.
