It feels like the year just started but somehow we are already in March. Now as you may (or may not) know, March is Women’s History Month. It is the one month in the year when we get to see many advertisements from corporate bodies lauding women, many women-led/focused panels and events, and basically a lot of talk about women. Whether or not these things really improve the plight of women is debatable. I would like to hear more about practical, actionable things that can positively impact the lives of women and one such thing is our health.
Women’s Health is Women’s wealth - @christianaama on Instagram
As a doctor with a special interest in women's health, I am constantly reminded of how much women have been let down by science and also how much disinformation is out there regarding women's health matters. In my years of practice, I have seen everything from women inserting teabags into their vaginas for cleansing purposes to women who have endured years of chronic pain without ever being properly diagnosed due to the ignorance of some doctors.
Understanding that our physical health has an impact on all other aspects of our lives including our productivity and earning ability makes it clear why matters concerning women's health should be given more priority.
This post aims to highlight a few things we should all be mindful of for ourselves and the women in our lives.
Contraception. It is a shame that something so central to women's health and well-being is still considered taboo in some places because many people relate the use of contraception to sexual promiscuity. The reality is that having the tools to decide when and how you want to get pregnant can have an impact on a woman's financial, psychological and emotional well-being. I have met many women whose lives have taken an unwanted diversion because they “fell pregnant” at an inconvenient time.
Apart from preventing pregnancy, contraceptive methods can also help with irregular periods and chronic conditions like endometriosis. It is therefore important that women not only have access to contraception but also to information that helps them make the best decision for their reproductive health. It is true that many of the methods have associated side effects but it is also important to distinguish myth from reality. And because contraception is not one size fits all, it is important to not only research options but also discuss with a qualified practitioner when considering contraception.
Screening tests. A screening test is a test aimed at detecting early stages of a disease in the hopes of early treatment and cure. The two most popular screening programs for women are breast and cervical cancer screening and these exist in many parts of the world.
The recommended screening test for breast cancer is a mammogram every three years for women between the ages of 50-70 years. Unfortunately, this applies to the general population and not to women who already have increased risk due to hereditary factors and other risks. I came across an Instagram post from @oliviamunn last week where she shared her story of being diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after she had a negative screening test. The only reason why her cancer was caught early was because her doctor calculated her breast cancer risk and suggested further testing.
A quick Google search came up with several breast cancer risk calculators which factor in things like age, age at first period, first pregnancy, family history, and so on. Interestingly I had never heard of this before so I am pretty sure it isn’t something many doctors routinely suggest but it might still be helpful to mention it to your doctor if you have any concerns.
This is in addition to routine breast checks for lumps or skin/nipple changes. It is always better to see your doctor about any changes, even if you’re not particularly worried.
The screening test for cervical cancer is the smear test which is recommended every 3 years for women between the ages of 25 - 49 years and then every 5 years from age 50 - 64 years. The test is not the most pleasant experience and I know of women who now skip it altogether because of traumatic experiences in the past. But it is a life-saving necessary evil so I would advise every woman I know to get her smears done regularly.
The thing about cancer is that we generally assume that it is an illness for older people, but I had a colleague who was the same age as me die from breast cancer about 6 years ago, and another friend who was diagnosed with cervical cancer a few years ago (listen to us talk about her diagnosis here) so it is really important to start getting these checks done early and regularly.
Sexual health - Another important but not mandatory screening test is a sexual health screen. This also has some stigma attached to it but if you’re sexually active, it is important to get tested at least once a year. And not just the HIV test but a full sexual health screen which should include syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia testing. It is also important to be aware of infections that can be transmitted via skin-to-skin contact such as herpes.
Pelvic pain - There are several conditions that lead to chronic pelvic pain in women including PCOS, Endometriosis and Fibroids. Unfortunately, too many doctors do not consider testing for them and it is sometimes a battle to get diagnosed. Symptoms such as painful periods, heavy periods, pain during sex, pain when passing stool, bleeding between periods and so on should be discussed with a gynaecologist and if you’re not able to get answers, feel free to get a second and third opinion if necessary.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are some other conditions I’d like to highlight but this is already longer than I had planned so I shall stop here and save the rest so I have something to write about next week.
This week I read
The Sun Sets in Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe - This book is a story of the lives of a group of Nigerian women from very different backgrounds whose lives intersect in Singapore. I loved it for many reasons. First of all, women, second of all, Nigerian women. I like that the characters felt real and relatable. I could picture every single one of them. I also liked how the author portrayed flawed characters without vilifying them. I liked that the writing was descriptive without going over the top. I’ve never been to Singapore but the depth of detail in the writing made it feel familiar. I also really liked that the two main-ish characters did not end up together. That would have been too tropey for me.
As usual, I listened to the book and as usual, I was disappointed by the mispronunciation of all the Nigerian parts. I still find it incredibly ridiculous that people don’t consider this to be very important when choosing who to voice a book. I cringed every time I heard the word “Nne” pronounced as “Neh”. I know Nigerian voice over artists exist so I do not think there is any excuse for this to still be happening in big 2024.
I also read this essay about some of the peculiarities of life as a black woman.
This week I listened to
Episode 187 of The Knowledge Podcast where Shane and Dr Becky have the most insightful conversation on parenting that I have ever listened to. I feel like more thought needs to be given to parenting because the stakes are so high. This conversation was very thought-provoking and many of the things discussed can also be applied to all relationships. Would highly recommend to all the parents I know.
I’m currently in exam prep mode so I am listening to a learning podcast meant for doctors but I found the episode on contraception very helpful. There was a lot of useful information about the different types of contraception so if you’d like to learn more about contraception, it would be a good resource.
The days are getting longer again and I’d like to think my mood is lifting. I definitely am having more good than bad days lately and for this I am super thankful.
I have yet another very expensive exam coming up in a few months so I am back to studying daily which is actually not too bad because I am studying with my friends. Once again this exam is too expensive for me to fail, so the aim is to pass. If I disappear for a few weeks, please assume that it is exam-related. Also, add me to your prayer request list because I need all the thoughts and prayers I can get.
Here’s wishing you a week (and lifetime) of being proactive with your health and advocating loudly for yourself where necessary.