8 Health Issues All Women Should Know About
8 Health Issues All Women Should Know About
Women and men can suffer from a variety of different conditions, but some health issues affect women exclusively or more commonly. What’s more, many of these conditions can often go undiagnosed for some time. From early menopause to hormone fluctuations and interstitial cystitis, this article will explore the health issues that women should know about and most importantly, the treatments that can bring relief and balance.
1. Menopause
Menopause is a condition that signifies the end to your menstrual cycles. It is usually diagnosed once you have gone 12 months without a period and is most likely to occur in your 40s or 50s. The average age for menopause to occur is 51 in the United States. There are several signs of menopause, including emotional symptoms, hot flashes, reduced energy and disrupted sleep. The good news is that these menopause symptoms can be relieved with many effective treatments including hormone therapy and life adjustments.
2. Perimenopause
The natural progression towards menopause is often called the perimenopause. Perimenopause symptoms can include hormone fluctuations and the start of menstrual irregularity. During perimenopause, estrogen levels can rise and fall causing menstrual cycles to shorten or lengthen and other symptoms such as sleep problems, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes. Some women start to experience the first stages of perimenopause sometime in their mid-30s, but the more typical perimenopausal age is the mid-40s. Fortunately, many treatments can be used to combat perimenopause symptoms helping you to transition to menopause as smoothly as possible.
3. Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy is a family of medications that contain bioidentical female hormones. These are used to replace the female hormones that the body stops producing naturally following menopause. Hormone therapy for women is sometimes also used to treat the most common symptoms of menopause, including vaginal discomfort and hot flashes. A reduction in estrogen levels can increase the chances of developing osteoporosis. Hormone replacement therapy has been proven to reduce fracture and prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women. Medications should always be tailored to the individual and reviewed often to ensure benefits far outweigh any potential risks.
4. Vaginal Rejuvenation
Certain life changes can mean that many women experience vaginal problems such as painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, and an overactive bladder. Fortunately, there are several vaginal rejuvenation treatment options available for women suffering from these symptoms. MonaLisa Touch, for example, is a vaginal rejuvenation laser therapy that can help to improve dryness, vaginal atrophy, and mild incontinence. Another treatment, ThermiVa, is a radiofrequency therapy that can help to improve sensation, vaginal laxity, and mild incontinence. Each treatment is tailored to your specific requirements and symptoms to ensure the best possible results.
5. Interstitial Cystitis
Also known as painful bladder syndrome, interstitial cystitis is a condition that affects over one million women in the United States. It is a painful bladder condition that causes vaginal and pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome and painful intercourse. The pain may be worse when the bladder is full and temporarily relieved after going to the toilet. Interstitial cystitis symptoms often come and go in phases and you may experience episodes that last for days and even months. While the condition cannot be cured completely, it can be alleviated with medication, dietary and behavioral changes, physical therapy and bladder instillations.
6. Vitamin Therapy
It can be difficult to know whether we are meeting the right nutritional requirements every day. If you are experiencing fatigue, mood swings, headaches, frequent colds or problems with sleep, it could be you are deficient in a particular vitamin or group of vitamins. While nutritional balance plays a key factor in optimizing wellness, sometimes the body requires a little extra help in the form of vitamin therapy. Vitamin therapy is so much more than over-the-counter supplements (although these do have their place) and can include a number of treatments, including vitamin therapy IV, vitamin C therapy, vitamin D therapy, and vitamin boosters.
7. Weight Management
As you get older and start your journey through the phases of perimenopause and menopause, you may start to experience weight gain despite your best efforts to stay fit and eat a healthy diet. If weight gain is a major issue for you, it is reassuring to know that there are weight management programs that can help you to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight throughout menopause and beyond. Losing weight can not only improve your physical appearance but can also alleviate menopause symptoms such as lost energy levels and incontinence.
8. O-Shot
For many women, certain changes in life such as childbirth, menopause or loss of bladder control can have a detrimental impact on sexual desire and sensation. The O-Shot is an effective new treatment that gives women back control of their bodies and helps to boost confidence. It’s named the O-Shot due to its ability to increase sexual desire and greater arousal from stimulation. Most women who have had this PRP injection are now enjoying an increase in sexual response and more frequent and stronger orgasms.