Often shrouded in mystery and stigma, reproductive health touches every woman’s life in deeply personal ways as it revolves around the holistic understanding and care of our bodies and their reproductive functions.
Encompassing a wide range of issues, reproductive health includes sexual health, family planning, pregnancy, childbirth, sexually transmitted infections, and beyond.
From the reproduction challenges faced by young women to navigating reproductive hygiene, Health For Mzansi has shed light on reproductive health stories, striving to raise awareness and challenge longstanding stigmas.
Four things women can do to protect their health
Dr Mumtaz Abbas, a family physician at the Bishop Lavis Community Day Centre in Cape Town, shares important screenings that women can access for free at their local clinics, including screening tests for blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), breast examination, and HIV tests..
It is always best that women visit clinics or doctors for a general check-up at least once a year, he advises. “The frequency of visits depends on your age, risk factors, family history and your general health status. If you are over 50 years of age and have chronic illnesses, you may need to visit your doctor twice per year or more frequently depending on your condition.”
Hey sis, here’s how to take control of fibroids
In this podcast episode, a friend in crisis says that she is living in constant pain and suspects that she might be suffering from uterine fibroids which are benign tumours that grow in and around the walls of the uterus.
Pretoria-based diagnostic and interventional radiologist Dr Andrew Lawson shares his insights and advice for the management of uterine fibroids.
Heavy periods? Don’t ignore abnormal uterine bleeding
Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common issue, affecting about one-third of women at some point in their lives. While some irregular bleeding is normal during life stages such as menarche (the onset of menstruation) and perimenopause (the transition to menopause), unexpected or irregular bleeding should not be overlooked as it can signal more serious health conditions.
While abnormal uterine bleeding is a common issue, this article advises that it is important for women to be vigilant about their menstrual health.
Dear Women, we need to talk about our vaginas
All women should be concerned about their vaginal health, but what constitutes a healthy vagina?
While a healthy vagina depends somewhat on a woman’s age, the vagina generally has an acidic pH, contains rich quantities of beneficial bacteria that help fend off infections, and is naturally lubricated. Sex is a natural thing that almost every adult engages in. And while it’s an important function for our society (after all it’s how babies are made), women don’t get the same attention when it comes to fixing their problems.
In this podcast episode, Centurion-based fertility specialist Dr Qinisile Diale unpacks more of women’s most pressing vaginal woes.
Relief and risks of home remedies for vaginal infections
Home remedies for vaginal infections are popular for their accessibility and affordability. Safety, however, can be an issue as experts warn that you can exacerbate the problem by using products you’re not supposed to.
In this article, women like Azania Vilakazi and Enhle Zwide share their experiences, highlighting both benefits and potential risks, whilst a gynaecologist warns against using home remedies for vaginal infections, as it may lead to persistent yeast infection with no relief.
ALSO READ: Women’s health advocate: Nurse Natasha serves with heart
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