Women sometimes neglect their own health and focus instead on their partner’s and their children’s. The woman’s body is wonderfully complex and delicate. However, multiple roles as the mother, daughter, wife, homemaker, wage earner can cause imbalance in both physical and mental health.

As a woman, you might share some common health risks with men, such as heart disease, but because of your special reproductive role, you are at risk of some distinctly female disorders. So first take care of yourself !

Some common problems like, menstrual disorders, pregnancy, breast feeding etc. can be taken care of by regular health check-ups at your nearest health care center. Information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraceptives too is available at public health departments.

Some common women’s health issues are as follows:

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
PMS consists of various physical and/or emotional symptoms that occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle, after ovulation. It is characterized by premenstrual discomfort in the lower abdomen and back, and in the breasts. All these features precede the period by a week or ten days. Fortunately, a woman obtains relief when her menstrual period begins. Another feature of PMS is a symptom-free time for several days every month, in the first half of the menstrual cycle.

Pregnancy

Symptoms of Pregnancy

For a woman having a regular monthly cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period, or sometimes women who are pregnant have a very light period, losing only a little blood. One should immediately approach their nearest health care clinic for a thorough check-up.

Other signs are:

q Feeling sick, not necessarily in the morning, but at any time.

q The breasts may become larger and tender. Veins may become prominent and nipples may darken and stand out.

q Increased frequency in passing urine.

q Tendency for constipation.

q Tiredness.

q An increased vaginal discharge without any associated complaint.

q A metallic taste in the mouth.

q Dislike for certain things like tea or coffee or fatty foods.

q Increased liking for certain things like spicy foods.
Pregnancy test can be carried out on urine samples, as early as from the first day of a missed period-that is, about fourteen days after the conception at any health center.
A positive test result is almost definitive of pregnancy. If the test is negative, it is less reliable. It can be repeated after a week, or a doctor can be consulted.

Infertility
Infertility is defined as the failure to become pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse. There are two types of infertility; Primary infertility, which is infertility without any previous pregnancy; and secondary infertility, when there has been a previous pregnancy.

Common causes of infertility are:

Ovulation problems

Tubal causes

Sperm causes

Unexplained infertility

Age-related factors

Some less common causes are:

Uterine problems

Endometriosis

Previous tubal ligation

Previous vasectomy

Various drugs

Cervical factors