It’s 9:00 p.m., we’re on our bed feeling lazy and sick and our friends are waiting at Envy for a girls’ night out. They call us and we just respond with a Karen, “Can’t go out,” *fake cough* “I’m sick.” 

But we don’t really know what’s keeping us a little off-color.

As women of power and privilege, we are often so trapped by our busy schedules and hustling that we tend to forget to check on ourselves when our number one priority is taking care of our health. 

Here are the common health issues in women that we must know:

Menstrual Problems

More than half of women who have periods experience some kind of pain during their cycle. Some women might feel a little discomfort in the abdomen or tugging in the pelvic area while other women experience severe cramps. This type of pain is called dysmenorrhea — an abnormal contraction of the uterus due to a chemical imbalance in the body.

Another type of menstrual problem is an irregular period. Women with irregular menorrhea have shorter or longer than average menstrual cycles. Having different gaps between periods could also mean that you are irregular. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but could also range from 21 to 40 days. Irregular periods can be caused by some medicines, not eating enough calories, or pregnancy. 

A regular check-up with your OB-GYN could really help you ease the pain of cramps and overthinking! 

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

Urinary Tract Infection, often referred to as UTI, is more common in women than men. This type of infection affects the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.

Your urine doesn’t typically contain bacteria, but because the urethra is closer to the anus, it is more prone to the E.coli bacteria which could lead to infection. 

Make sure to wipe your private parts from front to back!

Hyperthyroidism

From the words, “hyper” which means quick or energetic, and “thyroid” as a scientific term for gland, hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of thyroid glands in the woman’s body. This type of health issue increases the body’s metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss. 

If you feel like you’ve lost weight all of a sudden, might consider getting yourself checked and get treated asap.

Vaginitis

Does your vag itch most of the time? I guess it’s time to call for a pelvic exam. Vaginitis causes infection in the vagina resulting in itching, burning, pain, discharge, and bad odor. It is usually caused by sexual contact or if there is a change in the balance of organisms found in the vagina.

tl;dr Clean up after sex!

PCOS

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a condition where a woman’s body produces higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones. This hormonal imbalance leads the body to skip menstrual periods and produce excess facial and body hair, among many other disorders.

Most women with PCOS tend to have fewer chances of getting pregnant.

While there is no exact cause of PCOS, it is still better to consult with your doctor, especially if you’re planning on having a little ‘you’ soon.

Mental Disorders

Mental illness among women is on the rise. About 19% of women experience common mental disorders compared to men with only 12%. Women are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and eating disorders. These are mostly caused by abuse, trauma, social isolation, discrimination, severe stress, long-term physical health conditions, and many more. Mental health problems can be deeply personal and difficult to understand, but there are interventions that could treat them.

It is never shameful to seek help especially if this is for your benefit. Nothing is wrong with being aware!

REFERENCES:

• ^{What health issues or conditions are specific to women only? via Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development}
• ^{Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Symptoms and Causes via Mayo Clinic}
• ^{Vaginitis via Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development}
• ^{Polycystic Ovary Syndrome via Mayo Clinic}
• ^{Women and Mental Health via Mental Health Foundation}
• ^{Mental Health Problems — An Introduction via Mind UK}