Taking My Reproductive Health Seriously

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Being a woman is quite the struggle, I'm not even joking. There are way too many things that could go wrong with a woman's reproductive health and it's so scary when I think about it. I freak out at the slightest change in my body because it could be indicative of a problem. What's weird is that the same change could also be a normal reaction with no form of complications whatsoever.

When I was younger I was always worried about vaginal discharge changing both in texture and smell, I didn't know that in every cycle, before, during and after ovulation, the pattern of discharge changes. Whenever I got more sticky discharge I got anxious that I might have a problem because most infections come with excess, sticky discharge. I also had irritations from wearing tight underwear and wearing it both day and night. Back then 'toilet infections' were a thing and I assumed I had a toilet infection.

At 16 I was diagnosed with Hidradenitis suppurativa, a condition in which the hair follicles in the skin become blocked for no known reason.

"...a skin condition that causes small, painful lumps to form under the skin. The lumps can break open, or tunnels can form under the skin. The condition mostly affects areas where the skin rubs together, such as the armpits, groin, buttocks and breasts." MayoClinic

On the same day I got this diagnosis from a doctor, it was debunked by another doctor as just mere boils that would go away. Years later, I think the first diagnosis was right.

My point with all this talk is, anything could go wrong in a woman's body for no known reason. Everyday I keep learning new stuff that could go wrong with my body especially reproductive health.

I learnt of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) sometime ago and I'm very much in awe how a lot of women might have this and don't even know it.

"Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs." MayoClinic

Like a lot of diseases plaguing reproductive health, the cause of PCOS is unknown. A lot of women go through very painful menstrual cramps for years and have irregular periods which are symptoms of PCOS. When left undiagnosed and untreated, it could lead to infertility, depression, anxiety, diabetes and ovarian cancer.

Seeing girls my age and in my region be open about suffering from PCOS has motivated me to take this seriously. A lot of us girls have these symptoms but overlook it as one of those things and this can be dangerous in the long run. Early diagnosis saves one from a lot of complications and stress.

I'm so anxious about it because I actually tick almost all of the symptoms of PCOS. It's wrong to self diagnose and I won't be at peace until I see a gynecologist about this.

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5 comments
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Hello. Yes, you are correct to be concerned about your reproductive health. A woman has numerous items that can affect her body and mind that interrupts her desire to have a family and children. So much of our helath is dependent upon how we take care of our bodies. We must start on the inside and work outwards in maintenance.

Regular check up from a gynecologist is essential. Yearly is preferred scheduling.

Thanks for sharing your concerning and the information. Take care. Hope you're able to see a doctor soon and relieve your worries.

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Thank you! I really need to make yearly checkups a habit

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