What comes to mind when you think about women’s health? Does it begin with having pap smears and end with having babies or a hysterectomy? Are you told that going through menopause is the natural order of things and dealing with it is the only way to cope, to survive? It wouldn’t be wrong to believe it to be true when countless times that is what you are being told during your healthcare visits. And in those moments, most just like you, begin to lose hope.
Women’s health is so much more than pap smears, having children, and blowing off menopause. Our bodies are changing daily. We have sleepless nights, pelvic pain, frequent UTIs, and much more than meets the eye. Yes, time and aging are inevitable, and we change. However, all is not lost, and now is not the time to give up on feeling your best. It is in finding the source of your issues, your chronic lower back pain, your high blood pressure, that will open the door to your longevity.
Let’s start with visiting your GYN for regular checkups. More often than not, your primary care doctor may tell you that wellness exams aren’t needed but every 3 to 5 years. But think about it, within 3 years, there is a lot going on internally that wouldn’t necessarily show up externally until later down the line. I would challenge you to start becoming more self-aware of what is going on in your body. What it takes is a reprogramming of how you approach health.
You may be wondering, what do I know or have learned about women’s health care from women who age? Well, first, my ability to be open-minded about time and aging has encouraged me to learn and keep seeking information free and unbiased, unashamed. I move by the motto, “Never trust a portrait of God that is painted in one color”. This goes to say that every woman is different and should be treated as such. Health needs are different and should not just be talked about during simple pap smears and breast exam visits. To fully address your needs, frequent evaluation and management visits to your gynecologist may be necessary.
Transformation begins with the challenge of thinking and observing outside the box. Put your health at the top of your list. If there is a concern of yours, best believe there is a more in-depth answer for it other than, “just deal with it”. The best way to solve a problem is to recognize that there is a problem, define the problem, and move from there. Because if you don’t have an agenda of your own, others will provide one for you.
In the words of President George W. Bush, “You either own, or get owned. The X factor is you.”
