Feminine health encompasses everything from annual exams and prenatal appointments, to taking care of biological structures in a woman’s anatomy, as well as managing daily health matters such as premenstrual syndrome, fertility, and menopause.
Women’s health research has historically been underfunded and clinical outcomes lag behind those for men. This needs to change immediately.
Menstrual health
Menstrual health refers to the ongoing, daily care that women and girls require in order to manage their monthly period. A period is a natural shedding process in which blood and tissue from the uterine lining is shed off through vaginal discharge and collected by absorbent products such as sanitary pads, tampons, or any other menstrual hygiene product that absorb and collect blood flow.
Menstrual hygiene services and materials must be safe, affordable, and sufficient in order to improve global population health, meet Sustainable Development Goals, and advance gender equality and empowerment. Girls and women who menstruate require timely, accurate information about their periods, sufficient sanitation facilities and supportive environments within schools, workplaces and homes.
An experienced women’s health provider can address your specific needs and offer education and support that will keep you healthy throughout your life, from adolescence through menopause. Let’s make menstrual health an agenda item!
Vaginal health
The vagina is a closed muscular canal extending from the outer genitals, known as the vulva, through to urethra and hymen. It hosts its own set of bacteria that keep the area clean, balanced, and healthy; any changes disrupting this balance may lead to symptoms of BV or yeast infections in women.
Maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome requires basic hygiene practices: washing with mild soaps and wearing cotton underwear that breathes can prevent irritation or infections; eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains also encourages good flora growth.
Certain health conditions and habits can disrupt the vaginal microbiome and result in symptoms including painful sex, bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections. Unprotected sexual activity can result in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) while forceful or violent sex can result in pelvic injuries. Pregnancy, childbirth and long-term use of antibiotics may also alter vaginal flora; two common causes are BV and yeast infections causing discharge, odor or itching caused by inflammation caused by vaginitis – two common causes being BV and yeast infections affecting vaginitis which results in inflammation caused by discharge from within flora of vaginitis which results in discharge, odor or itching symptoms;
Nutrition
Women have unique nutritional requirements due to their complex biology and hormonal shifts throughout life. Eating well can improve physical and mental wellbeing while decreasing disease risks and improving quality of life as we get older.
Nutrition plays a fundamental role in health at every stage, such as during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. Diets that provide women with essential nutrients, including lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables as well as omega-3 rich oils as well as low-fat dairy can contribute to optimal health throughout their lives. An adequate and nutritious diet can reduce the risk of nutritional deficiencies by providing essential micronutrients at appropriate amounts, including iron for menstruation to prevent anemia, calcium for bone strength and vitamin D for osteoporosis risk reduction in later years, etc. To achieve optimal health requires taking an holistic approach which includes lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, sleep and stress management as well as having strong social ties.
