A Guide to Women’s Health
Had a check-up from the gynecologist lately?
Female students may or may not need to depending on the status of their reproductive organs and sexual activity, said USU Wellness Center nurse practitioner Linda Roberts.
Pap smears are used to detect cervical cancer and if women have been sexually active for at least two years, it’s time for a pap smear, Roberts said.
In a pap test, a speculum is entered into the vagina and a swab is taken from the cervix to take a sample of the cells to detect malignancy.
Jessica Shaw, graduate student in education, said she has seen her gynecologist on an annual basis since she was 18, and said having an annual check-up is important for women to protect their health.
“I’d be apprehensive not going to my gynecologist because I’d be living every day not knowing whether I have female health problems,” she said. “I’m taking steps toward good health.”
Risks for cervical cancer include smoking, having multiple sex partners, becoming sexually active at a young age and practicing sex without a condom, Roberts said.
One way to combat cervical cancer is the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is a preventative to cervical cancer and genital warts in women and Roberts said she recommends getting vaccinated before becoming sexually active.
Because the HPV virus is transmitted solely by skin to skin contact, it’s important to get vaccinated. Roberts said other STDs such as gonorrhea and syphilis are bacteria diseases, which simply need to be treated with antibiotics.
There is not a government approved HPV vaccine for men, but should be approved in the near future, Roberts said. The vaccine consists of three shots in a six-month period.
Urinary tract infections, commonly known as UTIs, are another health risk that commonly effects women because they are more susceptible to women than men, Roberts said. UTIs can be treated with antibiotics and are not a STD, which many people believe it is, she said. Sexually active people are more prone to receiving them because of the mechanics of sexual intercourse in skin-to-skin contact, Roberts said.
Roberts said she makes her visits as comfortable as possible for female patients, so they can feel able to ask or say anything concerning their sexual health issues.
Roberts said she advises students to practice safe sex and to get out of unhealthy relationships which can leave women in an enduring state of stress and unhappiness.
For young adult women, breast examinations are important so that lumps or any abnormalities can be detected before they form into breast cancer.
Roberts said 25 percent of the cause of breast cancer is because of a genetic line-up and the other 75 percent is unknown.
“We simply don’t know the cause of it,” she said. “There may be correlations between smoking and breast cancer or high-fat diets and breast cancer, but there is no absolute known cause of breast cancer.”
Roberts said women should periodically examine themselves for breast cancer at their homes. Roberts said a lump will feel something like a very small grape and if there is anything unusual about a woman’s body, she should come in and have it checked by her physician.
For female student athletes and for women with heavy menstruation, anemia can be a concern because an abundant amount of iron is lost because of blood loss. Athletes need more iron supplements to keep the body strong with the physical demands of their sport, Roberts said.
Irregular menstruation, missing periods and very painful heavy periods indicate a hormonal imbalance. Roberts said she advises women to have it evaluated because it could be a risk for more serious things.
“Hormones are out of balance when (your cycle is abnormal or absent) and our job is to put hormones back into balance,” she said.
Having hormones out of balance can result in numerous symptoms and discomfort including depression, fatigue, anxiety, headaches, decrease in libido or weight gain, Roberts said.
Hormonal imbalance may manifest through more severe symptoms, like osteoporosis, urinary infections, uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breasts and endometriosis, according to articleclick.com.
To prevent anemia and to stablize iron levels, Roberts said eating foods high in iron or taking a multi-vitamin with iron are great ways to be iron sufficient.
Anemic symptoms include fatigue and dizziness, which are the two most experienced symptoms, Roberts said.
Loss of a monthly period is normal during high-stress times, such as a freshman’s first couple of weeks of school or a period of rigorous, heavy training for a collegiate athlete, she said.
“(Having your period irregularly) isn’t abnormal under high stressful times; however, if it’s ongoing, it needs to be evaluated,” she said.
Roberts said the most important thing for women to do is just to pay attention to their body and be aware of any abnormal functions.
“Just come in and don’t worry about it and we’ll consult with you,” she said. “We are a convenient health clinic for students. It’s what we are here for.”
–candice.sandness@aggiemail.usu.edu