Did you know that a woman’s reproductive system is among the most delicate in the body? This is due to how complex the entire system is. Any minor abnormalities are also capable of causing serious health issues associated with this system.
According to the CDC, some of the most common issues affecting the female reproductive system include endometriosis, uterine fibroids, interstitial cystitis, and PCOS.
Certain health disruptors are dangerous for women. This article will discuss four such disruptors. It will also discuss the significance of good reproductive health and tips for maintaining it.
Heatwaves
Heat stress is a real struggle as it can easily disrupt the hormonal balance in one’s body. Women who experience extended periods of heat stress may end up having shorter menstrual cycles, irregular periods, and heavy bleeding.
It may also lead to extreme pain and discomfort or cramps. Extreme cases also lead to amenorrhea, which is the absence of menstruation altogether. What's more is that heat waves can also destroy embryos and oocytes, thereby causing reduced fertility.
Earthquakes
This one may come across as strange but it is true. A 2023 study found that women residing in earthquake-prone areas like Turkey suffered from higher rates of menstrual irregularities.
In the study, around 309 women from disaster-prone areas were followed up after nine months. It was discovered that menstrual irregularities increased from 14.3% to 44.8%, similar to the stress the body undergoes post-trauma.
Stress
In general, there is no physiological process that stress does not impact negatively. The World Economic Forum (WEF) states that even serious lifestyle diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity are closely linked to chronic stress.
A woman’s body is already very sensitive from a hormonal viewpoint. This means stress will naturally impact female reproductive health. When a woman lives in a prolonged state of stress, her brain’s ability to produce and regulate key hormones reduces.
Over time, this issue adds up and throws hormones out of balance. As a result, the woman may experience issues like missed or delayed periods, lighter or heavier flow, etc.
Medical Products
Another major disruptor of women’s reproductive health, at least in the modern era, is different medical and Femtech products. One top example of this is the Paragard hormone-free intrauterine device.
First approved by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in 1984, this medical device is a copper-based contraception. It was claimed that Paragard could provide long-term contraception of up to 10 years.
Women have used it for decades for family planning only to suffer serious injuries at the time of removal. TorHoerman Law states that women complain of injuries like infection, severe pain, internal bleeding, infertility, and more.
The IUD pieces have even broken apart and migrated to different parts of the body. This has led to organ damage or perforation. Given how serious the complications are, it makes sense that women have filed the Paragard lawsuit against the device’s manufacturer.
Over 2,700 lawsuits have been filed to date and are awaiting settlements. Besides this, other feminine hygiene products like sanitary pads, tampons, etc., have a notorious reputation.
They have harmful chemicals or endocrine disruptors that get easily absorbed through the delicate vulvar tissue. As a result, the chemicals can interfere with hormonal balance, lead to irregular periods, and cause certain gynecological conditions like endometriosis.
Importance of Good Reproductive Health
A woman’s reproductive system is hormonally charged. This makes it highly sensitive to even mild changes. It may be the reason why the impact extends beyond childbirth. The World Health Organization (WHO) discovered that over a third of women above the age of 40 face long-term health challenges after childbirth.
Worldwide, that would sum up to 40 million women. These numbers were unheard of in the former generations. A significant part of it has to do with disruptions that occur way before conception, as discussed above.
One aspect of good female reproductive health has to do with empowerment and feeling in control of one’s life. However, there are physical and psychological health implications too.
For instance, poor menstrual health is the reason behind serious conditions like bacterial vaginosis and reproductive tract infections. From a psychological perspective, issues with reproductive health can impact a woman’s confidence and sense of self.
Tips to Maintain Good Menstrual Health
From what we have discussed, it is clear that good reproductive health among women is essential. Some factors may indeed be out of our control. However, steps should be taken, as far as possible, to reduce complications.
Listed below are some ways in which women can maintain their menstrual and reproductive health -
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Keep a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise.
- Avoid harmful habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, and excessive caffeine intake.
- Go for regular health checkups to address any issues early on.
- Use any drug or medical device after careful consideration of long-term effects.
- Take steps to manage psychological stress.
- Eat more food products that specifically support menstrual health. These would include green vegetables, banana flowers, fish, and beans.
On a somber note, women’s reproductive health across the US is on the decline. The CDC shares that 1 in 5 married women across the US are unable to get pregnant even after trying for a year.
Can this be considered a national health crisis? At this point, yes. Women must take control of their feminine health and practice healthy habits.
