Anita Admiraal
Increasing awareness and attention:
There is growing awareness and attention to women-specific health issues, both at individual and societal levels. There is greater recognition of women’s unique health needs and greater emphasis on promoting gender equality in health care. Research is also mainly conducted on Men only.
Menstrual health:
There is an increasing focus on menstrual health and breaking taboos around menstruation. This has led to more openness and discussion on menstruation-related issues, such as menstrual pain, menstrual cycle disorders and access to menstrual products.
Reproductive health:
There have been several changes in the area of reproductive health, such as improved access to contraceptives, better sex education and awareness, and increasing support for choices related to fertility, such as fertility treatments and childbirth options.
Health risks and conditions:
There is growing research on specific health risks and conditions affecting women. More emphasis is being placed on the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and mental health conditions such as postnatal depression.
Hormonal symptoms are an important aspect of women’s health, but the topic is often perceived as difficult and taboo. Hormonal changes can lead to a wide range of complaints and symptoms, such as mood swings, menstrual pain, hot flushes, weight fluctuations, fatigue and sleep problems.
The perception of hormonal symptoms and how the world views them varies somewhat. Although progress has been made in making female hormonal health negotiable, there still remains a degree of stigma and taboo.
On the positive side, there is a growing recognition of hormonal symptoms as legitimate health problems. More and more women are sharing their experiences and opening the discussion on hormonal health, both online and offline. This has led to greater awareness and understanding of the challenges women may face.
In addition, health organisations, medical professionals and policymakers have also taken steps to take hormonal symptoms more seriously. More research is being done on hormonal health, the causes of symptoms and possible treatment options.
Guidelines have been developed to support healthcare providers in diagnosing and treating hormonal problems.
Despite these positive developments, some women still experience barriers when discussing their hormonal symptoms. This may be due to cultural beliefs, lack of knowledge and awareness, and the idea that hormonal symptoms are simply “normal” and nothing can be done about them. This can lead to a sense of isolation and frustration among women dealing with these symptoms.
Breaking the taboo around hormonal complaints requires a collective effort. It is important to increase openness and understanding, both at the individual level and in society as a whole. Encouraging open conversations, increasing knowledge and awareness, and providing adequate medical support and treatment options are essential steps to reduce the stigma around hormonal symptoms and provide women with the support they need.
If women feel that the mainstream does not have enough knowledge about hormonal symptoms or if they need complementary or alternative approaches, there are too few options they can turn to.
There are clinics or centres that focus specifically on hormonal health and women’s health. These institutions often have specialists, such as gynaecologists, endocrinologists or hormone specialists, who have expertise in hormonal complaints and treatments. This involves medication and does not offer insight awareness and long-term solutions.
1. Alternative medicine: Some women choose to explore alternative medicine, such as naturopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine or homeopathy. It is important to note that there is limited scientific evidence (WHAT IS SCIENCE?) for the effectiveness of these treatments for hormonal complaints. It is wise to do research, consult others’ experiences and seek advice from mainstream healthcare providers prior to consulting alternative providers.
2. Hormone therapy centres: For women experiencing hormonal imbalances, a hormone therapy centre may be an option. These centres specialise in assessing hormone levels and prescribing tailor-made hormone treatments to restore balance. This involves medication and does not offer insight awareness and long-term solutions.
3. Online communities and support groups: The internet offers a wealth of information and support for women with hormonal symptoms. There are online communities and forums where women can share their experiences, ask questions and get advice from others who have experienced similar challenges. However, it is important to remain critical and verify information, as not all online sources are reliable.
Regardless of where women turn for support, it is recommended to communicate openly with healthcare providers and make it clear that hormonal symptoms should be taken seriously. It is also wise to keep good records of medical history and symptoms and provide a detailed summary to the healthcare provider so that they can get a better picture of the situation and offer targeted help.
A different approach to prevention awareness and health. Evidence-based.
In which decisions and actions are taken based on the best available evidence in the field of life-style interventions, stress reduction and taking A-type complaints seriously. It means that decision-making, practices and interventions do not always have to be supported by so-called reliable ‘scientific data’.
It helps professionals avoid acting purely on tradition or unfounded beliefs according to current protocols.
So there needs to be more knowledge about female health and linking mainstream to the complementary field. Regular is stuck with ‘time constraints’ to actually pay attention to this.
Research and innovation:
Investing in evidence-based research and innovation can serve as a catalyst to address challenges. Through Evidence-based ‘research’, new insights, approaches and solutions can be discovered. Promoting innovation encourages finding creative and effective ways to deal with challenges.
Collaborations and partnerships:
Establishing collaborations and partnerships between different stakeholders can be a powerful catalyst. By pooling resources, expertise and perspectives, complex challenges can be better addressed. This can include collaboration between governments, academic institutions, non-profit organisations, private sector and the community.
Awareness and engagement:
Increasing awareness and engagement of both the public and policymakers can be a catalyst for change. Creating awareness about the challenges, informing the public and involving stakeholders in the decision-making process can create greater pressure to take action and implement solutions.
Policies and regulations:
Implementing effective policies and regulations can act as a catalyst to address challenges. For example, creating and enforcing appropriate regulations can improve public health protection, promote equality, encourage sustainability and address inequalities. Especially in the workplace.
The most appropriate catalysts require a thorough analysis of the situation and a multidisciplinary approach.
