August is Women’s Month, which means this is the perfect time for us to focus on helping women live their healthiest lives. But with all the information we have at our fingertips today – particularly when it comes to our health and well-being – it can be overwhelming to know what to take on board. It can also be hard to know which information is true, and which is based on opinion or outdated thinking. To help you feel empowered when it comes to living a healthy life , here are five women’s health myths, busted:
- Only men get heart attacks
You may think heart attacks happen mostly to men, but that’s not the case: across the world, cardiovascular diseases account for a third of all deaths in women. In South Africa, the World Heart Federation says that the proportion of cardiovascular disease deaths in women aged 35–59 years is one and a half times more likely than that of women in the US – so we’re at an increased risk. Interestingly, heart attack symptoms in women can differ slightly from men. In addition to classic symptoms like chest or shoulder pain, women may also experience additional symptoms such as indigestion, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and back pain – sometimes even without chest pain.
- You can’t have an STD if you don’t have any symptoms
Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HPV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be present without you experiencing any obvious symptoms. In South Africa in 2017, there were over 2 million new cases of gonorrhoea, 1.9 million new chlamydia cases and over 23 000 new syphilis cases among women aged between 15 and 49. While many women won’t seek treatment for these STDs since they may not display any symptoms, if left untreated they can damage the female reproductive organs and even result in long term complications such as infertility. If you are sexually active – particularly if you have multiple partners – it’s important to get tested regularly to protect your reproductive health.
- You can’t get pregnant while you’re breastfeeding
Actually, you can! Around 2 out of every 100 women who use breastfeeding as their only method of birth control get pregnant within the six months after their baby is born. Although breastfeeding does give you some protection against falling pregnant – the increased levels of oxytocin and prolactin your body produces while you breastfeed stop your body from ovulating – the length of time for which this happens is unpredictable, and it varies among women. Other factors can also increase your chances of ovulating earlier, for example if you’re not exclusively breastfeeding and are supplementing with formula. For these reasons, don’t rely on breastfeeding alone to not fall pregnant; rather use another form of birth control as well.
- A health professional needs to perform a breast check
While your gynaecologist or women’s health practitioner will check your breasts for abnormalities, it’s still important that you check your own breasts on a regular basis. By making it part of your regular routine, you’ll get to know your breasts and how they feel normally, which means that you’ll quickly notice any unusual changes. That said, if you belong to a medical aid in South Africa such as Fedhealth, you’ll receive a screening benefit that covers a range of women’s health screening tests, such as pap smears and mammograms every two years if you’re over 45, which are paid for by the Scheme.
- Only women over 50 experience menopause
While the average woman will experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 years old, around 5% of women experience menopause before they’re 45. Some even experience it even younger: premature menopause, also known as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), is when menopause happens before the age of 40. Premature menopause happens because your body isn’t producing enough oestrogen, which in younger women can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis and heart disease. The reasons for the early onset can vary, including things like undergoing chemotherapy or having an autoimmune disease. In other cases, the cause is unknown. If you do notice changes in your cycle before you reach average menopause age – such as longer or shorter menstrual cycles or spotting between periods – speak with your healthcare provider so you can look into possible causes and treatment you may need.
Women’s health is a complex topic, and what works for you needs to be weighed up against your individual circumstances and health history. However, you can still ensure you’re as healthy as possible by trying to live a balanced life day-to-day, which means getting plenty of regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and minimising stress. Here’s to optimising your health so you can live your best life possible, this August and beyond!
