Celebrating International Women's Day: Exploring Health Issues That Affect Females The Most

Being aware of what health conditions most affect women is a great way of raising awareness for female health, as well as your own personal health. If you are aware of the conditions that you could be experiencing you will be able to get the help you need when you need it. In this article, we will explore the conditions that specifically affect people who are assigned female at birth. We will also discuss International Women’s Day, an annual awareness event that is held to celebrate those who identify as women all over the world. 

The Most Common Health Issues That Affect Females

What health conditions are specific to women only?

Due to the biological makeup of those who are assigned female at birth, there are some conditions that are only specific to them. The female body is different to the male body and thus, will experience conditions that a man cannot, and vice versa. 

Which gynaecological health issues affect women only?

Here are the gynaecological issues that most affect those with female reproductive organs.

• Menstrual and Menstruation irregularities

Menstrual irregularities can mean a number of different things, but, most commonly it refers to when a woman has an irregular period. This can be caused by a number of different factors including menopause or puberty.

• Pelvic floor issues 

When you have an issue with your pelvic floor it will mean that you are unable to relax or coordinate your pelvic floor muscles to use the toilet properly.

• Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence means that you are sometimes unable to control when you urinate. This is most common in menopausal women and women that have had children.

• Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis, also known as BV, is a condition that is a common cause for unusual vaginal discharge. It is not a sexually transmitted infection, although it can increase your chances of contracting chlamydia. 

Which Pregnancy health issues affect women only?

Here are the pregnancy issues that most affect women.

• Pre-pregnancy and prenatal health issues

There are a number of pre-pregnancy health issues that can affect women. The most common of these are high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure during childbirth.

• Miscarriage

A miscarriage means the sudden loss of an unborn child before the 23rd week of pregnancy. A miscarriage can occur for a number of different reasons.

• Premature birth

If a baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation then it is considered to be premature. Premature babies are at risk of serious conditions and are often underweight.

• Birth defects

There are a number of different birth defects that can affect women. The most common birth defects are down syndrome, heart defects and neural tube defects.  

• Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is a type of depression that is felt by parents after they have had a baby. Typically, it affects women more than men. This can also be known as baby blues.

Which infertility issues affect women only?

Here are the infertility issues that most affect women.

• PCOS

PCOS stands for Polycystic ovary syndrome. It is a condition that only affects those with female reproductive organs. The cause of PCOS is relatively unknown, however, it is known that it changes the way a woman’s ovaries work.

• Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to that of the lining of the uterus grows in other places it is not meant to such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes. 

• Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are small, non-cancerous growths that develop in and around the womb. Uterine fibroids can make it harder for a woman to conceive, especially if they grow in the fallopian tubes.

• Primary ovarian insufficiency

Primary ovarian insufficiency occurs when the ovaries stop working as they should before a woman reaches the age of 40. Ovaries don't produce typical amounts of oestrogen or release eggs regularly. This condition is also known as a premature ovarian failure and often leads to infertility.

Which other health issues affect women only?

Here are some other health issues that mostly affect women. 

• Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that affects the two small organs in the female reproductive system called the ovaries. It is important that you get checked for the symptoms of ovarian cancer. 

• Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is cancer that is found anywhere in the cervix. The cervix is found between the vagina and the womb. The severity of cervical cancer depends on its size and the stage that it is detected. 

• Menopause

Menopause is the time of life that a woman experiences when her periods stop due to lower hormone levels. 

• Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder that occurs in around 1 in every 12,000 girls. It affects brain development and results in severe mental and physical disabilities. 

• Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome is another rare genetic disorder that affects around 1 in every 2000 girls. Girls with Turner syndrome will only have one X sex chromosome as opposed to two. They will be shorter than average and will not have regular periods due to underdeveloped ovaries.

International Women’s Day

What is International Women's Day?

According to the official IWD website, International Women’s Day is a globally recognised awareness day that was created to highlight ‘the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.’ It is an important day to:

• Celebrate women's achievements

• Educate and awareness raise for women's equality

• Call for positive change advancing women

• Lobby for accelerated gender parity

• Fundraise for female-focused charities

When did International Women's Day start?

International Women’s Day has a much deeper history than some may think. The very first International Women’s Day was held on February 28th 1909 in the United States. It would be held on the last Sunday of February until 1913. During this time, women across the United States and the world were campaigning to be given the vote. 

During the early 1910s, International Women’s Day was observed in countries all over the world, including Russia. In 1913, Russian women observed International Women’s Day to protest the number of men killed during World War One. It was then agreed that the day would be moved the March 8th. In 1975, International Women’s Day was recognised by the United Nations and in 1977 the General Assembly proclaimed it an official United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.

Is International Women's Day a public holiday?

International Women’s Day is a public holiday in the following countries:

What is the theme of International Women's Day for 2024?

The theme for International Women's Day 2024 envisions a world where gender equality prevails. It's a world without bias, stereotypes, or discrimination, where diversity is embraced, and inclusion is celebrated. International Women's Day aims to advance women's equality and inspire inclusion for all. They encourage people to honour women's accomplishments, shed light on discrimination, and work towards gender parity. International Women's Day is a global movement, and every action taken to promote inclusion is significant.

What are the aims of the #InspireInclusion campaign for International Women's Day?

The aim of International Women's Day is to promote gender equality and celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide. It's a day to raise awareness about gender discrimination and advocate for women's rights and empowerment. Additionally, IWD serves as a reminder of the ongoing work needed to achieve gender parity and create a more inclusive society for all.

Below is a video by Kazuri Consultiung explaining what the aim of the #InspireInclusion campaign for International Women's Day 2024 aims to achieve:

When is International Women's Day in 2024?

International Women’s Day 2024 is held on the 8th of March. This has been the case since the early 1910s.

International Women's Day 2023

What was the theme of International Women's Day for 2023?

In 1996 the United Nations announced the very first theme of International Women’s Day. The theme then was ‘Celebrating the past, Planning for the Future’. Since then, each day has had a different theme. In 2023, the theme of International Women’s Day was #EmbraceEquity.  This theme was created to “drive worldwide understanding of why Equal opportunities aren't enough.”

What were the aims of the #EmbraceEquity campaign for International Women's Day?

Here is a video outlining the aims of the #EmbraceEquity campaign for International Women’s Day 2023:

When was International Women's Day in 2023?

International Women’s Day 2023 was held on the 8th of March. This has been the case since the early 1910s.

Can everyone support International Women's Day?

Yes, International Women’s Day can be supported by anyone no matter their gender, age, race or sexual identity. The purpose of International Women’s Day is to be a beacon of equality across all genders and should be celebrated by all. 

Where can I find out more about International Women's Day?

To find out more about International Women’s Day, check out their website here or follow the social media links below.

What online platforms can I join for International Women's Day?

Here are some social media platforms that you can use to join in with International Women’s Day:

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalWomensDay

• Twitter - https://twitter.com/womensday

• Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/internationalwomensday_global/

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/18193291/

• LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1406777/

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO0slFdmiod2KmJztaQQV4w

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@internationalwomensday

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Sources

• International Women's Day

• Theme

• About

• Mission: Change

• Mission: Creative

• Mission: Work

• Mission: Tech

• Mission: Empowerment

• Mission: Health

• Mission: Sport

• Global Gender Gap Report

• Equality versus Equity

• Female-Specific Mental Health

• Periods

• Pelvic Floor Exercises

• Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction

• Urinary Incontinence

• Bacterial Vaginosis

• Miscarriage

• Premature Labour and Birth

• Breastfeeding

• Congenital Heart Disease

• Post-Natal Depression

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

• Endometriosis

• Fibroids

• Early menopause

• Ovarian cancer

• Cervical cancer

• Rett syndrome

• Turner syndrome