HEALTH + WELLNESS
FOR DECADES, WOMEN’ S UNIQUE HEALTH NEEDS HAVE BEEN SQUEEZED INTO A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL MODEL THAT OFTEN DOESN’ T FIT AT ALL. NOW, HOWEVER, THANKS TO A MIXTURE OF PUBLIC DEMAND, GOVERNMENT STRATEGY AND TIRELESS CAMPAIGNING, THE SPOTLIGHT IS SHIFTING. THE LATEST 10-YEAR WOMEN’ S HEALTH STRATEGY FOR ENGLAND( PUBLISHED IN AUGUST 2022) SETS OUT A VISION THAT IS AMBITIOUS, WIDE- REACHING AND LONG OVERDUE. IT FOCUSES ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT EVERY STAGE OF A WOMAN’ S LIFE, FROM MENSTRUAL HEALTH TO MENOPAUSE AND MENTAL WELLBEING, WHILE ALSO TACKLING THE STUBBORN INEQUALITIES THAT LEAVE SOME WOMEN MUCH WORSE OFF THAN OTHERS. SO, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE? AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE MOMENTUM ISN’ T LOST?
BY POLLY HUMPHRIS
Periods For too long, period pain and heavy bleeding have been dismissed as simply part of being a woman, but it’ s that casual dismissal that’ s cost countless women years of silent suffering and delayed diagnoses for conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome( PCOS).
Shockingly, only 19 % of women in the UK feel knowledgeable about endometriosis, despite it affecting one in 10. Awareness of PCOS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder( PMDD) is even lower. That’ s why a big part of the government’ s plan is to boost public understanding and equip GPs with better training so women don’ t face the all-too-common‘ come back if it gets worse’ brush-off.
Fertility and Pregnancy Fertility treatment, pregnancy and the often swept under the carpet heartbreak of miscarriage and still birth are also under the microscope. The plan? Fairer access to IVF across the country- because postcode lotteries have no place in modern healthcare- and new pregnancy loss certificates to acknowledge early losses with compassion.
For women navigating these experiences, practical support matters just as much as medical care. That could mean making sure workplaces understand the physical and emotional toll of fertility treatment, or that mental health services are there for parents after loss because, let’ s face it, the emotional impact doesn’ t end in the GP’ s office.
Menopause A stage of life that every woman will experience, but that no one seems to know much about, if menopause has finally made it into mainstream conversation, it’ s thanks to women speaking up. The focus now is on making sure that support is consistent across the UK, from ensuring a reliable supply of HRT( and, crucially, explaining that HRT is not a standard magical cure, but a process, within which there are various options) to introducing menopause awareness into workplaces.
And while hot flushes and brain fog get most of the airtime, the reality is broader: sleep disruption, anxiety, joint pain and changes in heart health risk are all part of the picture. Treating menopause as a workplace and social issue, not just a medical one, is a sign we’ re heading in the right direction.
Maternal Mental Health Motherhood changes everything- including mental health. Perinatal depression, anxiety and even post-traumatic stress after birth are more common than many realise, yet stigma still keeps too many women from speaking up, which is why investments in specialist maternal mental health services are so crucial. The aim is for women to have access to dedicated help before, during and after pregnancy, with local‘ Family Hubs’ playing a role in connecting them to support. One of the most promising developments is the £ 25 million rollout of Women’ s Health Hubs across England. Combining services like contraception, gynaecology, menopause support and menstrual care in one place,
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