By Dr Sarah Lewis
This week is National Women’s Health Week! It’s an opportunity to celebrate the health and wellbeing of all those who identify as women across Australia; to educate and to inspire women to take positive action.
Unfortunately, women have historically been excluded from medical research, leading to misdiagnosis, misinformation, and inadequate treatment. “Women are not small men” has become one of my favourite phrases as, despite our similarities, women experience very different, and much more complex, hormone fluctuations. It is these hormone fluctuations that control a woman’s menstrual cycle; however, they do much more than just that: they affect our mood, gut, energy levels, libido, skin and more!
It is far too often that I meet a woman who has been struggling with severe period pains, persistent hot flushes or debilitating urinary incontinence. Sadly, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding these issues and many women are suffering in silence. The only way we can change this is to start the conversation, educate ourselves and empower change. Don’t be afraid to speak to your healthcare professional and make your voice heard.
There are Women’s Health events being held all across Australia this week, both online and in person. Sign up below to find out more:
https://www.womenshealthweek.com.au/
Here is a list of some other great women’s health resources – spread the word!
- Jean Hailes: https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/
- Australian Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org.au/
- Sexual Health Quarters: https://shq.org.au/resources/health-info/info-sheets/
- Australian Women’s Health Network: https://awhn.org.au/
- The Female Factor, by Dr Hazel Wallace: https://thefoodmedic.co.uk/the-food-medic-books/the-female-factor/
- What every women needs to know about her gut, by Prof Barabara Ryan and Elaine McGowan, RD: https://www.booktopia.com.au/what-every-woman-needs-to-know-about-her-gut-barbara-ryan/book/9781529388268.html
