Women’s Health Issues No One Talks About
For many women, some health issues feel too private or too embarrassing to talk about, even with their doctor. Prolapse, faecal incontinence, and urinary incontinence are uncomfortable words and sensitive topics. But that is what eventually happens to one-quarter of women.
But ignoring health problems will not make them go away and delaying treatment can often turn into small annoyances into serious conditions.
Here are five of the top women’s health issues that no one talks about. But maybe they should….
- Forgot a tampon inside – a retained tampon will be noticed since it typically causes a horrible odour and perhaps some mild discomfort and pain. Try to safely get it out. If you cannot retrieve it yourself, you will need to see your doctor as soon as possible. A retained tampon for too long will cause a vaginal infection.
- Haemorrhoids – It is swollen, inflamed veins or blood vessels in and around your lower rectum and anus. Often caused by pressure or straining during a bowel movement, pregnancy, or childbirth. Symptoms include bright red blood in the stool, on toilet paper or in toiler bowl. Pain, irritation, swelling and itching around the anus. Treatment includes haemorrhoids creams or suppositories, icepacks, warm baths, dietary changes, or surgery may be required.
- Urinary Incontinence – It is the lack of bladder control that leads to accidental loss or leakage of urine. Also called stress, overflow, or functional incontinence, depending on the symptoms. Symptoms including, sudden, frequent need to urinate. Leakage during activities and sneezing of laughing. Multiple nightly bathroom visits. Inability to reach the bathroom in time. Treatments include medication and hormone treatments. Pelvic muscle strengthening. Bladder training. Constipation treatment.
- Bowel Incontinence – It is the inability to control bowel movements, causing accidental, unexpected leakage or passing of stool. Symptoms included in ranges of bowel incontinence – from mild (streaks or stains) to severe (loss of bowel control). Inability to control when stool is released. Passing stool or mucus. Diarrhoea or constipation. Treatment option includes medication, pelvic muscle strengthening, bowel training. Increasing water and fibre to your diet. Surgery.
- Uterine Fibroids – They are muscular, usually benign growths that vary in sizes that form in and around the walls of your uterus. They may grow as a single tumour or in a cluster containing multiple fibroids. Symptoms include unusually heavy or frequent menstrual flow. Frequent urinating. Back or leg pain, pelvic pain or pressure and constipation. Treatment may include medication or surgeries such as endometrial ablation to remove the uterine lining, Myomectomy, which removes fibroids but retain your uterus. Hysterectomy, which removes fibroids and the uterus.
Do not delay a visit to your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms.