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Women's Reproductive Health: 6 Important Things Women Must Know About Their Reproductive Health
Things Women Must Know About Their Reproductive Health Understanding and taking care of reproductive health is crucial for women. Here are six important things women should know.Dear women, are you sure you know everything about your reproductive health? Infertility is one of the most common and sensitive issues. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 185 million are dealing with various infertility issues worldwide, mostly due to the stigma attached to the topic and lack of awareness. Most of these individuals, especially women, don't get enough information or knowledge about their reproductive health in general. Which leaves them helpless to understand the basis of their own body, leaving them facing issues with shock and stress.
We spoke to Dr Muskaan Chhabra, Consultant, Birla Fertility & IVF, to understand more about issues that women face while understanding their reproductive health. After all, it is important to have detailed knowledge about your body in order to make it function better and serve you a better life.
Female Reproductive Health: What You Need To KnowHow much do you know about your reproductive health? Let's do a reality check. Below mentioned are some of the important things every woman should know about her reproductive health to enjoy a happy life:
Menstrual Cycle and Normal ChangesFamiliarize yourself with your menstrual cycle, including the length, duration, and any changes that occur. Understand what is considered normal, such as cycle length between 21 and 35 days and bleeding lasting 2 to 7 days. This knowledge helps identify potential issues or irregularities.
Contraception OptionsBe aware of various contraceptive methods available, including barrier methods, hormonal methods, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and permanent solutions like sterilization. Understand how each method works, its effectiveness, and potential side effects to make informed decisions about contraception that align with your lifestyle and reproductive goals.E
Reproductive System AnatomyEducate yourself about the female reproductive system's basic anatomy, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina. Understanding this anatomy helps in recognizing potential abnormalities or symptoms of reproductive health issues.
Importance of Regular Check-UpsSchedule regular visits with a gynaecologist or healthcare provider for routine check-ups, even if you feel healthy. Regular screenings for conditions like cervical cancer (Pap smear), breast cancer, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are crucial for early detection and timely treatment if necessary.
Sexual Health and STI PreventionLearn about sexual health, safe sexual practices, and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Knowledge about STIs, their symptoms, transmission, and available treatments empowers women to protect themselves and their partners.
Fertility and Family PlanningUnderstand the basics of fertility and factors that can affect it, such as age, underlying medical conditions, and lifestyle choices. If you plan to have children in the future, consider learning about fertility awareness methods, ovulation tracking, and the impact of lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and smoking on fertility.
Disclaimer: Remember, these points provide a starting point, but it's always recommended to consult with a fertility and a gynaecologist specialist for personalized advice and to address any specific concerns about your reproductive health.
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The Environmental Impacts On Reproductive Health
While genetic and lifestyle factors impacting reproductive health have been studied for years, the role of environmental factors such as air pollution, organic pollutants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals are coming under the spotlight.
As increasing numbers of studies find evidence of the adverse effects of environmental pollutants and toxins on reproductive health, researchers are pushing for more work to be done to understand the connections between these factors and fertility.
Globally, one in six people will face challenges in conceiving a child at some point in their lives, according to a recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) estimates that 25 million people in the EU alone are affected by infertility.
Female and male infertility is often linked to a number of factors such as increasing age at conception, disorders of the genital organs, endocrine disorders, and abnormal sperm function and quality.
Other factors can be external, such as smoking, consumption of drugs, and excessive alcohol intake.
While these factors have been the subject of scientific journals for decades, recent research reveals an additional cause for concern: exposure to environmental pollutants and toxins.
"In the EU, whereas we've done a lot of efforts to regulate chemicals better, we know very little about the toxicity of most of the chemicals that we have widely present in consumer products", said Pauliina Damdimopoulou, a researcher on the impact of chemicals on the fertility of women at a seminar hosted by ESHRE last week.
"We can see multiple associations to adverse effects in studies varying from ovarian function to endometrial biology, fertility, and reproductive outcomes", she added.
For Damdimopoulou, the need to study organic pollutants and their effects on women's reproductive health is crucial, despite the costs of measuring chemicals' impacts.
One factor highlighted by researchers is the role of urban air pollution in human health.
Miguel Ángel Checa, a specialist in reproductive medicine studied the effects environmental toxins can have on fertility. Air pollution, for instance, contributes to low birth rates, despite not being the only risk factor.
His studies show that exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2) decreases sperm DNA synthesis, which can lead to infertility and miscarriage.
Another environmental factor concerning experts is endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs).
EDCs are a class of chemicals commonly found throughout our environment in children's products, food containers, personal care products, pesticides, and furniture.
These hazardous substances alter the functioning of the hormonal system, having a negative effect on the health of humans and animals.
During the seminar, various researchers warned about the effects these substances may have on fertility.
Maria Isabel Acien, chief of gynaecology at San Juan University Hospital in Alicante, Spain, explained how endocrine disruptors can cause genital tract anomalies.
"Disorders in young adult men like low sperm counts and testicular cancer may also stem from maldevelopment of the foetal testis and so have been related to in-utero endocrine disruptors", she said.
Likewise, for Rémi Béranger from Rennes University, there's a need to better understand these compounds to reduce exposure.
"We need to develop prevention strategies at an institutional level. To support research and exposure assessment to understand to what exactly we are exposed to," he concluded.
By Marta Iraola
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Rethinking 'healthier' roads. On the occasion of the 7th UN Global Road Safety Week (15-21 May) WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, in his statement called on governments to increase investments in modes of active transport such as walking, cycling and public transport, along with urban planning that allows accessing services and amenities within distances that could be readily covered on foot or by bicycle. "We must collectively take advantage of this moment in time to rethink – and redo – mobility, for the well-being of people and the planet, now and for future generations," he said in a statement released on Monday (15 May). 70,000 deaths per year and hundreds of thousands more non-fatal injuries due to road traffic crashes are recorded in the WHO European Region each year.
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No use of using non-sugar sweeteners. On Monday (15 May) WHO advised not to use non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) for weight control in a newly released guideline. The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that the use of non-sugar sweeteners does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children. Results of the review also suggest that there may be potential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults. "NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value. People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health," said Francesco Branca, WHO Director for Nutrition and Food Safety.
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[Edted by Nathalie Weatherald]
Read more with EURACTIVCan A Vegan Diet Really Reduce The Risk Of Cancer? Here's What The Research Says
Plant-based foods are growing in popularity—there's no doubt. In the US, research in 2020 found that around 23 percent of US consumers have tried vegan meat products before. And in the same year, a different report found that a whopping 94 percent of Americans are willing to increase their consumption of plant-based foods.
Many of these people are driven by environmental concerns (animal agriculture is a big driver of emissions and deforestation), while some are worried about animal welfare (billions of animals are factory farmed around the world). But others are upping their intake of plant-based foods for their potential health benefits.
Many believe that following a predominantly whole-food, plant-based diet may reduce their risk of developing diseases, including certain types of cancer. And there is certainly a growing body of research that supports this thinking. But, it's important to note, food is not a cancer cure. And there is no guarantee that just because you eat a certain way, you won't develop cancer. But that said, Australian dietitian and doctor of food and nutrition Shy Vishnumohan, PhD, told VegNews that a plant-based diet can be a "valuable component" in reducing the chance of developing some types of cancer.
"Switching to a plant-based diet can be a wise choice for reducing the risk of certain cancers," she explained. "However it is important to bear in mind that multiple factors that contribute to cancer risk, including genetics, lifestyle habits, and environmental factors."
"It's just one part of a larger picture of wellness. Life is like a stack of cards—while there is no magic bullet that will guarantee 100-percent immunity, making healthy food choices that are plant-forward can be powerful and stack the deck in our favor," Vishnumohan added.
But which cancers might be impacted by following a plant-based diet? We've looked at some of the research, and three types pop up consistently: prostate, colorectal, and breast. Here, we take a closer look at some of the studies on each.
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Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system that produces seminal fluid for sperm. According to the American Cancer Society, current research suggests around one in eight people with male reproductive systems will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. On average, this diagnosis happens around the age of 66.
Again, currently, there is no way to completely guarantee the prevention of prostate cancer, but in general, research suggests that exercising and following a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables (like whole food, plant-based diet) may help to reduce the risk.
One study, published in the Journal of Urology in 2021, examined more than 47,200 males for up to 28 years and found that higher consumption of plant-based foods was associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer in people with male reproductive systems under the age of 65. However, fewer than one percent of study participants followed a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, so researchers were not able to assess the risk in those who eat zero animal products.
Another study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2022, found that the regular consumption of cow's milk could mean a 60 percent higher risk of developing prostate cancer. According to the researchers, who evaluated more than 28,700 Seventh-day Adventists for five years for the study, this could be because prostate cancer is hormone-responsive, and, of course, there are hormones in cow's milk.
While principal investigator Gary Fraser noted that more research is needed to prove a definitive link between dairy consumption and increased cancer risk, he also said "our findings add important weight to other evidence associating dairy products, rather than non-dairy calcium, as a modifiable risk factor for prostate cancer."
Colorectal cancerColorectal cancer refers to cancer that has started in the colon or the rectum and can also be called colon cancer, rectal cancer, or bowel cancer, depending on its origin. The risk of colorectal cancer is similar for everyone, regardless of sex. According to the American Cancer Society, the risk is about one in 23 for people who have a male reproductive system and about one in 26 for people with a female reproductive system.
According to Anne Kennard, DO, FACOG, "colorectal cancer risk can be profoundly influenced by diet," and there is much evidence to back this up. "The World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked bacon, sausage, and other cured and processed meats as group 1 carcinogens," she explained to VegNews. "Which puts them in the same category as tobacco and asbestos."
"WHO has also placed fresh red meat in the group 2A category, which suggests that it is probably carcinogenic to humans," she added. "In addition, The Global Burden of Disease Project has estimated that diets high in red meat could be responsible for 50,000 cancer deaths per year worldwide."
Last year, another study from Tufts University and Harvard University strongly associated processed meat consumption with colorectal cancer. "Processed meats, most of which fall into the category of ultra-processed foods, are a strong risk factor for colorectal cancer," Lu Wang, the study's lead author, said in a statement.
"Ultra-processed foods are also high in added sugars and low in fiber, which contributes to weight gain and obesity, and obesity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer," she continued.
More recently, in February 2023, research also suggested that fungi-based vegan meat (like that from the brand Quorn, for example) may actually help to keep colorectal cancer at bay. To come to this conclusion, the study authors examined the urine and stool samples of 20 adult males between the ages of 18 and 50, once when they had consumed red and processed meat, and then again when they had swapped to fungi-based vegan meat.
"The study showed that this dietary change delivers a significant reduction in genotoxicity and an increase in beneficial gut microbes," lead researcher Daniel Commane, PhD, said. "Our findings suggest therefore that this high-fiber protein source provides a good alternative to meat in the context of gut health and could help to reduce long-term bowel cancer risk."
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Breast cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the breast. It is most common in cisgender women, but cisgender men, transgender women, and nonbinary people can also suffer from it. According to the American Cancer Society, it is responsible for about one in three female cancers, and usually, it affects people who are older than 45 (but a small number of people do still develop breast cancer before this age).
Again, as with all types of this disease, there is no miracle behavior that ensures you won't get diagnosed with breast cancer. But limiting alcohol, regular exercise, and eating a healthy diet are some behaviors that may help to reduce your risk. "A plant-based diet can decrease the incidence of breast cancer, the most common female cancer diagnosis," Kennard says. "With benefits specifically noted for diets including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes."
And there is research to back this up. In 2022, for example, one study suggested that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables may help to reduce the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women by 14 percent. To come up with their conclusions, the researchers (from Paris-Saclay University) tracked more than 65,000 postmenopausal people in France and their diets for more than 20 years.
"These findings highlight that increasing the consumption of healthy plant foods and decreasing the consumption of less healthy plant foods and animal foods might help prevent all types of breast cancer," Sanam Shah, the study's lead author, said in a statement.
For more on diet and disease, read:Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
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