Ever since the world began, women have been more attentive to health issues. They do more prevention on average than men and follow healthier habits and lifestyles. And they are usually the ones who worry about the health of their partners. Every woman knows it: taking care of your body is a typically feminine peculiarity, even if men have also been increasing their awareness of this issue in recent years.
Fortunately. From the first menstruation to pregnancy until menopause. To feel good, to ward off disease, and before arriving at a diagnosis, women know very well that prevention is the queen of health. Of course, if you get sick, then you turn to medicine. There are no doubts. But you can do a lot by paying attention to the signals that the body sends, small or large.
Women’s health in Australia
Care for women’s health in Australia was incorporated into national policies only in the first decades of the twentieth century, based on the demands related to pregnancy and childbirth. This policy reflected women’s role in society, most of the time being mothers and homemakers.
Only from the 1970s and 1980s onwards did new demands become part of this agenda, such as family planning and the need to expand Women Health care from conception to well-being after childbirth.
Thus, in 1983, the Assistance Program for Women’s Comprehensive Health (PAISM) emerged, which left aside the maternal-infant approach to guide its actions toward Women Health as a whole, that is, towards its integrality.
The woman’s body and its main changes
Throughout life, many transformations occur in the woman’s body. In this sense, three moments are particularly striking: puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
Understand what the main changes in each of these phases are.
Puberty
Puberty is the phase that marks the transition between childhood and adulthood. Onset varies from person to person, but it usually occurs between the ages of 8 and 13.
The main changes in this phase are:
- breast growth;
- the appearance of hair, including pubic hair;
- the first menstruation, also known as menarche;
- Changes in body shape are usually due to an increase in body fat percentage, especially in the hips and thighs.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another phase of intense changes in a woman’s body. Some are more apparent, such as the growth of the belly and breasts, and others less so, but essential for childbirth, such as preparing the hips.
Among the main changes that occur during the weeks of pregnancy are:
- Changes in smell and taste, which can cause the famous nausea;
- Increase in blood flow;
- the appearance of spots on the skin (melasma);
- reduction in hair loss ;
- more significant accumulation of fluids in tissues;
- More significant discomfort in the back, bladder (frequent urge to urinate), stomach (due to slower digestion), and intestine (some pregnant women may have constipation);
- Increase in breast size in preparation for breastfeeding ;
- Increase in the uterus volume, according to the baby’s growth.
During the postpartum period, known as puerperium, changes continue. Hormones come into balance again; the uterus returns to its average size, causing changes in the abdomen, and there is a more significant caloric expenditure, mainly due to breastfeeding.
Menopause
Menopause corresponds to the last menstrual period and can occur between the ages of 45 and 55. When it happens before that, close to 40, it is called early or premature menopause.
Diseases that can compromise women’s health
Some diseases are more common or specific to the female public. The best way to prevent yourself is to understand a little more about each of them, their causes, and their main symptoms.
Candidiasis
Most women have had or will have an episode of candidiasis. The infection is caused by fungi of the genus Candida, present in the genital region but can develop in excess in certain situations.
Urinary infection
More common in women, the infection is caused by pathogenic bacteria in the urinary tract. This happens because the woman’s urethra is shorter, facilitating access to the bladder, and is close to the anus, where there are many microorganisms.
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Breast cancer
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. There are several factors that can contribute to the risk of the disease, such as:
- age above 50 years;
- having children after the age of 30 or not having children;
- history of breast cancer in the family, especially in first-degree relatives who had the disease before age 50;
- overweight or obesity;
- menstruating too early (before age 12) or entering menopause too late (over 55 years);
- high alcohol consumption;
- sedentary lifestyle and poor diet.
PCOS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that can lead to the formation of cysts and an increase in the size of the ovaries. It usually does not cause pain, but it has some symptoms that can help identify the disease, such as:
- irregular menstruation (delays in menstruation);
- increased hair on the face, breasts, and abdomen;
- acne;
- weight gain;
- loss of hair;
- difficulty getting pregnant.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is usually a silent disease that is characterized by progressive loss of bone mass, increasing bone weakening, and the risk of fractures. Osteoporosis is more common in women after menopause due to a drop in estrogen production.
Among the risk factors for the disease are:
- family history;
- White skin;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- low consumption of food sources of calcium and vitamin D;
- lack of sun exposure;
- smoking and excess alcohol;
- diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes, among others.
Depression
Professional career, home care, motherhood, and the numerous hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, postpartum overload, and physical and mental exhaustion of women.
No wonder they are more likely to develop diseases such as depression, anxiety, and Burnout syndrome (or professional burnout syndrome).
Women’s healthcare tips
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Practice physical exercises
- Take care of mental health
- Prevent yourself against diseases
- Visit a doctor and get checked regularly
if you get sick, then you turn to medicine. There are no doubts. But you can do a lot by paying attention to the signals that the body sends, small or large.
