8 Issues Best Handled By A Women’s Health Center
Men and women may share similar issues and problems concerning their health, but women have gender-specific concerns that deserve unique consideration and care. Women’s health is different from men’s in so many ways. It focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases that affect women more commonly and differently.
Considering how women’s lives have been complicated over the centuries, it’s more important than ever to ensure that they have access to knowledge and health care specifically designed to meet their unique needs.
Women’s health centers are made available not just to provide them with convenience but also to offer integrated and comprehensive clinics that can better address different women’s health issues.
What Is A Women’s Health Center?
It’s a common misconception for people to immediately think of birth control and gynecologic care when picturing a health center for women. However, such a picture is incomplete because there’s more to a women’s clinic than being focused on pregnancy. A health center should provide multidisciplinary, extensive, and integrated care for women. It’s supposed to be a ‘one-stop shop’ where girls and women can go for everything related to their health care.
Leavittwomenshealthcare.com is an example of a women’s health center dedicated to the entire spectrum of women’s health issues. It’s important to understand that such clinics deal with not just matters related to the reproductive system but all the aspects of a woman’s body.
Ultimately, health centers for women prove that there’s no better type of clinic or establishment that can look after their health and wellness. Below, you’ll find a list of several issues best handled by a women’s health center.
1. Maternal Health
Every stage of a woman’s maternal health should be a positive journey. Women’s health centers are designed to help mothers and their babies are at the peak of their health, starting from pregnancy, labor, and delivery, until the postnatal period. Centers recognize that not all pregnancies and births are created equal. As such, they ensure that their facilities are well equipped with everything needed to provide high-quality maternal support and care.
When you get pregnant, your body goes through different changes as the baby grows in your womb. Making sure that you and your baby are healthy throughout the experience is highly important. To guarantee this, you may take note of the following tips:
- Visit your obstetrician (OB) regularly to monitor your pregnancy.
- Inform your OB of any issues or symptoms that make you feel uncomfortable or pained.
- Work closely with the doctor and health center to find out any possible complications or issues throughout the pregnancy.
- Expect to undergo several tests and routine health checks, including urine tests and blood work, that’ll help the doctor measure the baby’s growth and development.
- Follow your OB’s advice, and be sure to show up for your next appointment.
Health care providers in women’s health centers are equipped with the experience and knowledge to care for pregnant moms and deliver their babies. You also have the flexibility to choose a female OB if you feel more comfortable having one.
2. Cancer
Some of the most common cancers affecting women are ovarian, breast, cervical, colorectal, skin, and endometrial. Having sufficient knowledge about these cancers can go a long way in preventing or detecting them early. The key is to find them when they haven’t spread yet so they’ll be easier to treat, which can potentially save your life.
Breast cancer, for one, can occur in women at any age, but the risk is higher in later life or as you get older. It affected 2.3 million women in 2020, with 685,000 deaths across the world. Certain factors can also impact a woman’s chance of having breast cancer, including genetic mutation and family history. The key is to be informed of such risks so you’ll know what to do to prevent getting cancer.
A woman’s health center is equipped to handle holistic care for every stage and age. Digital mammogram screening, for example, is one of the features such centers have for patients who are more at risk of getting breast cancer. The screening is also recommended for women manifesting significant symptoms.
3. Reproductive Health
A woman’s reproductive system is elaborate to the extent that it’s susceptible to diseases or dysfunctions. As such, it has specific health needs, and if those aren’t met, it won’t be able to play its role. Reproductive and sexual health problems are among the most significant issues of women between 15 and 44 years old. In particular, for girls and women in developing countries, unsafe sex is one important risk factor.
In this regard, women need to regularly see a gynecologist, a doctor who specializes in reproductive health. Specifically, gynecologists ensure that women receive special care related to their hormones, ovaries, cervix, and vagina. If you’re sexually active or already have children, it’s recommended to see a gynecologist regularly to better monitor your reproductive health.
Understanding your reproductive system significantly contributes to making informed health care choices. The decision is yours alone when it comes to choosing any procedure or surgery that you think will make your life better, may it be concerning birth control or the prevention of more health concerns.
4. Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can occur in women without manifesting any signs or symptoms. In most cases, patients don’t feel comfortable going to a regular hospital or clinic for a checkup. If you ever find yourself in such a compromising situation, you might feel more at ease going to a women’s health center in your area.
STDs are infections you can get from another person through sexual contact. It’s important to know that sexual contact isn’t limited to only sexual intercourse (anal and vaginal.) STDs can also be transferred through the use of sexual toys, oral sex, and even kissing.
Although most infections are treatable, some STDs are incurable and dangerous, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that weakens the immune system by attacking infection-fighting cells. When left untreated, HIV can lead to the final stage: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Some of the most common sexually transmitted infections in women are:
- Genital herpes
- Zika virus
- Chlamydia
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhea
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Women’s health centers can best handle patients with any of these STDs. If you suspect that you may be infected, see your health care provider as soon as possible so they can better assess your condition. You’ll most likely need to undergo a blood or urine test. In some cases, the doctor may ask for a swab of your genitals, mouth, sores, or discharge, if any.
5. Mental Health
Studies suggest that women are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than men. Hormonal imbalance could be the primary reason behind this as hormones help in regulating stress and mood levels. Additionally, women can be affected by imbalances in their progesterone and estrogen levels.
Puberty, menopause, post-menopause, perimenopause, menstruation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding are some of the reasons women experience hormonal imbalance. In some cases, it can also be because of certain medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
The key is to consult with your care provider as soon as possible if you think you’re suffering from depression or anxiety.
Some of the symptoms of a mental health issue to watch out for are:
- Emotional shifts
- Tiredness
- Excessive worry or fear
- Constant feelings of hopelessness or sadness
- Changes in appetite and weight
Learning to recognize those symptoms can go a long way in providing a cure through therapeutic treatments or prescriptions. It’s important to understand that mental illnesses and conditions such as stress and anxiety can be treated, and there’s nothing to be afraid or ashamed of.
6. Cosmetic Concerns And Procedures
‘Cosmetic’ doesn’t only refer to makeup and other products used on the skin. The term can also refer to a medical procedure that a woman can choose to get done in order to repair a defect to improve her physical appearance. Cosmetic surgeries are getting increasingly popular through the years, and some of the most common procedures women get are the following:
- Facelift
- Breast augmentation
- Liposuction
- Rhinoplasty
- Tummy tuck
- Breast reconstruction
- Cheek or chin enhancement
- Lip augmentation
- Buttock lift
Many health centers for women offer the above services and procedures. You’re free to choose what you want to do with your body, especially if it can make you feel more confident and beautiful. Just be sure to speak with your aesthetician or surgeon to learn everything you need to know about the procedure you’re after.
7. Osteoporosis
This is a condition that weakens and thins the bones and may lead to painful fractures. Having osteoporosis means you have low bone mass and strength. Although it can occur in both men and women, women are more at risk of developing the disease.
Older women, in particular, are at the highest risk. Most risk factors are beyond your control, such as family history, ethnicity (Asian and white women are more likely to develop osteoporosis,) and some medical conditions. On the other hand, the factors you can control include bad lifestyle habits, smoking, and excessive consumption of alcohol.
The tricky part is that there are generally no symptoms during the early stage of this condition. It’s only when the bones start to weaken that signs and symptoms could begin to manifest, including:
- A stooped posture
- Back pain due to collapsed or fractured vertebra
- A gradual loss of height
- Fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine
Since there are no early signs of osteoporosis, it isn’t easy to diagnose the condition during early life. But if you think you’re more prone to getting it, you can talk to your doctor so you can discuss possible tests and screens such as an ultrasound or X-ray. Unfortunately, there’s no known cure for osteoporosis yet, but your health care center should be able to prescribe medication and treatments to slow down its progression.
8. Other Autoimmune Disorders
Another health issue that a women’s health center may best handle is autoimmune disorders that often share similar symptoms like vertigo, mild fever, exhaustion, skin irritation, and chronic pain. Autoimmune diseases happen when the natural defense system of your body isn’t able to recognize the difference between foreign cells and your own cells, hence resulting in your body attacking healthy and normal cells.
Some of the most common autoimmune disorders affecting women are:
- Multiple sclerosis: A disease of the spinal cord and the brain, multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition that could affect leg or arm movement, vision, muscle coordination, and many more.
- Lupus: This autoimmune disease can be challenging to diagnose because most of its symptoms are similar to other conditions. It happens when your immune system attacks your own organs and tissues, which could then cause inflammation. The inflammation can affect the heart, blood cells, joints, lungs, kidneys, and brain.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): RA is both an inflammatory and autoimmune disease. Essentially, this means your immune system is mistakenly attacking healthy cells, causing the different parts of the body to swell painfully.
Autoimmune diseases in females may ultimately be triggered by diet, stress, an excessively strong immune response, genetics, and infection. Unfortunately, these conditions don’t have a cure yet. However, advancements in health care and medications may help improve the functionality and prognosis of the patient.
In addition, lifestyle modifications can significantly help mitigate or reduce autoimmune flare-ups. Some of those changes include eating a healthy diet, reducing stress, practicing good sleep habits, and reducing the use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
Comprehensive Care Now Within Your Reach
It’s evident that women require unique care when it comes to their health and wellness. The gender itself is already a high risk when it comes to acquiring specific health issues and conditions. Add to that the other factors that could increase the possibility of a female having a particular disease.
Apart from pregnancy and childbirth issues, women face many struggles and threats to their health. Cancers, sexually transmitted infections, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, and mental disorders are just some of the problems they may or may not encounter throughout their lifetime.
As such, it’s crucial that a woman knows where to go and whom to talk to when she feels that something’s wrong with her body. Women’s health centers are specially designed to provide such custom services so that mothers, teens, and aging women would always feel comfortable seeing the health care provider of their choice.
This was it for today. Hope you have found reading about the Women’s Health Care Center helpful.
Have a Good Day!
