According to Wikipedia, Women’s health is defined as ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, as experienced by women, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’ There are numerous health issues that occur exclusively in the female gender, but it is important to note that diseases affecting both genders can manifest differently in women.
A woman’s life can be classified into stages: that of pre-adolescence; adolescence; child-bearing years; menopause and post menopause. Each stage, characterized by unique hormonal balances, manifests in distinctive states of physical being. When approaching the health of a woman it is key to acknowledge her life stage and then to address the homeostasis, or be it not, thereof.
The author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, Dr Christiane Northrup’s philosophy is that a woman gets in touch with the signals of her own body and in turn listens to it, thereby knowing if there is an imbalance. So alongside your medical practitioner, you are taking shared responsibility for your overall health. Enough emphasis can not be put on a healthy and nutritious diet, regular and appropriate exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and no physician can do this for you. There is no better medicine than that of prevention and as a woman there are a few key areas:

  •  Immunization between the ages of 9 and 14 against the virus that causes cervical cancer,
  •  Regular papsmears after sexual debut,
  •  Self breast examination on a monthly basis,
  •  Mammograms from the age of 40 (or younger with a family history of
    breast cancer), and
  •  Bone Mass Density tests from the age of 50.

It is also important for a woman to carefully consider family planning, and this is not just referring to the use of contraception, but planning when and how many children she is going to have.

Pregnancy in itself is a vast subject and careful medical attention is always warranted during this period. If you are reading this, and you are a woman, I salute you. Our gender is subject to innumerable physical and social challenges and yet we manage to overcome. So look in the mirror, smile, and tell yourself “good job”!


Yours in health
Dr Leneque Lindeque (MBChB, FCOG(SA), Mmed(O&G))
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Netcare Alberlito Hospital
Ballito
Tel: (032) 586 0723