This is a collaborative post.
As women, there are many specific health concerns and conditions to look out for which need a lot of attention. The more you know about your own body, the better off you are, as you can then make all the right steps towards living as healthy a life as possible. In this post, we are going to look at a number of female health issues. Some of them only apply to women, while others might be problems that men can experience too, but which have particular implications for women which you need to know about. Taking care of your own health is hugely important, so make sure that you are doing everything you can to keep on top of it. With any luck, you will then lead a long and healthy life.
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Urinary Problems
Something which is particularly common among women is urinary tract problems. There are many of these, and they all vary slightly, but by far the most common – and one of the most frustrating to experience – is cystitis. This is actually inflammation of the bladder, and anyone who has experienced it will tell you that it can be both incredibly painful and very annoying to have to deal with. If left alone, it can also become a much more serious issue, so it is important to watch out for this. Typically, cystitis first shows as a persistent need to urinate, coupled with a constant feeling of discomfort in the pelvic floor. You might find that once you start urinating, you then need to keep doing so at regular intervals – but if you hold it in, you will experience more pain. This situation is frustrating, but there are solutions to this problem. One of the best natural treatments is cranberry. Drinking cranberry juice (ideally fresh) will probably help you out with the pain a great deal. You can also get your hands on specific cystitis medicine, which can help greatly. However, mostly it is just a matter of waiting for it to pass – a process which can take days. If it persists, or you start to experience greater pain or pain elsewhere such as in your side, you should visit the doctor.
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Ovarian Cancer
One of the most terrifying thoughts for many women is the idea of developing ovarian cancer. Clearly, cancer of any kind is always serious, but when it comes to this particular kind it can be particularly worrying. This is because it is usually discovered quite late, meaning that it is harder to treat. You will likely have to undergo a good deal of chemotherapy if it does develop and from the ovaries the cancer can spread quite fast. There is little you can do to prevent cancer, except keep an eye out for it by having regular visits to the gynaecologist. Choose them well, however – many gynaecological claims center around a failure to discover cancers, so you want to make sure you can trust your doctor as much as possible.
Breast Cancer
Although technically men can also develop breast cancer, it is much more likely in women. This is in fact one of the most common types of cancer in the world. It is therefore hugely important that you know the early warning signs, so that you can get it checked out and hopefully treated as early as possible. Checking your breasts for lumps (which can also appear in the armpit region), having bloody discharge from the nipples, an inverted nipple, a sore or painful breast, or a sudden or noticeable change in the size or shape of a breast are all clear signs of potential cancer, and should be checked out at your earliest convenience. You should also make sure that you are going for regular screenings anyway, just to be sure that you are doing everything you can to catch it early if it does arise.
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Birth Control
If you decide that you want to use birth control, knowing which one to go for can be one of the trickiest decisions you’ll have to make. There are so many options out there now, and it is up to you to work out which you think would be most suitable for you. Many women are now moving away from the pill somewhat. The pill is incredibly effective, but it is also full of plenty of hormones, and it can cause you some health problems in later life. You might find that it interrupts or exacerbates your menstrual cycle, especially with the mini-pill, or that it causes acne or even depression. Make sure you are happy with your birth control option – it is your body.
