Womens health

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss and sleep centers

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Women's health

Women's Health: An Overview

Women's health encompasses a vast array of medical, physiological, and emotional issues pertaining specifically to women. While many health issues are shared between both genders, women face unique challenges and concerns related to their anatomy, reproductive system, and societal roles.

Anatomy and Physiology

Women have certain anatomical and physiological differences compared to men which require specialized attention and care.

Reproductive Health

• Menstrual cycles: The regular cycle of changes in the female reproductive system that makes pregnancy possible. It encompasses menstruation, ovulation, and changes in the lining of the uterus.
• Child birth: The process by which an infant is born, including stages of labor and delivery.
• Menopause: The phase marking the end of a woman's reproductive period, characterized by the cessation of menstrual cycles.

Other Anatomical Concerns

• Breast Health: Women need to be aware of breast health, breast cancer risks, and the importance of regular mammograms.
• Bone Health: Women are more prone to conditions like osteoporosis, especially post-menopause.

Specialized Fields of Study

• Gynecology: The medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system (vagina, uterus, and ovaries) and the breasts.
• Obstetrics: A branch of medicine and surgery concerned with childbirth and the care of women giving birth.
• Fertility: The capability to produce offspring and the study of reproductive systems.

Societal and Cultural Considerations

While biological differences account for many unique health concerns faced by women, societal and cultural aspects also play a significant role in shaping women's health.

• Access to Healthcare: In certain societies, women may have limited access to necessary healthcare services due to economic, cultural, or societal barriers.
• Mental Health: Women often face heightened stress and mental health challenges stemming from societal roles, expectations, and pressures.
• Maternal Health: Concerning the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It encompasses prenatal care, postnatal care, and the risks and challenges faced during childbirth.

Conclusion

Women's health is a comprehensive field that addresses the unique physiological, societal, and emotional needs of women. Recognizing these unique needs and ensuring access to specialized care is paramount for the well-being of women worldwide.

See Also

• Menstrual health
• Pregnancy
• Sexual health
• Contraception

References

• Johnson, A. & Roberts, L. (2015). Women's Health: Comprehensive Care and Societal Implications. Oxford University Press.
• Miller, S. (2018). The Female Body: Anatomy and Physiology. Cambridge University Press.

Womens health A-Z

Glossary of womens health

A

• Acne
• Anorexia nervosa
• Anxiety disorders
• Asthma
• Autoimmune diseases

B

• Bacterial vaginosis
• Binge eating disorder
• Birth control methods
• Bladder control
• Bladder pain syndrome see (interstitial cystitis)
• Bleeding disorders
• Body image
• Breast cancer
• Breast reconstruction after mastectomy
• Breastfeeding
• Bulimia nervosa

C

• Cancer
• Caregiver stress
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cervical cancer
• Chlamydia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

D

• Date rape drugs
• Depression
• Depression during and after pregnancy
• Diabetes
• Domestic violence / domestic abuse
• Douching

E

• Eating disorders
• Emergency birth control / emergency contraception
• Endometriosis

F

• Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C)
• Fibroids (uterine)
• Fibromyalgia
• Fitness
• Folic acid

G

• Genital herpes
• Genital warts
• Getting active
• Gonorrhea
• Graves' disease

H

• Hashimoto's disease
• Healthy eating
• Healthy weight
• Heart disease
• Heart-healthy eating
• Hepatitis
• Herpes
• HIV and AIDS
• Human papillomavirus or (HPV)
• Hysterectomy

I

• Infertility
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Insomnia
• Interstitial cystitis (bladder pain syndrome)
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

L

• Lupus

• M
• Mammograms
• Menopause
• Menstrual cycle
• Mental health
• Migraine
• Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
• Myasthenia gravis

N

• Nursing see (breastfeeding)
• Nutrition

O

• Oral health
• Osteoporosis
• Ovarian cancer
• Ovarian cysts
• Ovarian syndrome (PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome)
• Overweight, obesity, and weight loss
• Ovulation calculator

P

• Pap smear and HPV test
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Period (menstruation)
• Physical activity (exercise)
• Pregnancy
• Postpartum depression
• Pregnancy test
• Prenatal care
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Q

• None

S

• Screening tests and vaccines
• Sexual assault
• Sexually transmitted infections (STDs, STIs)
• Sickle cell disease
• Sleep and your health
• Spider veins and varicose veins
• Stress and your health
• Stroke
• Syphilis

T

• Thyroid disease
• Trichomoniasis

T

• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Uterine cancer
• Uterine fibroids

V

• Vaginal yeast infections
• Varicose veins and spider veins
• Violence against women
• Viral hepatitis

W

• Weight loss (and overweight and obesity)

Y

• Yeast infections

External links

A-Z women's health topics