2 days ago
1
MANILA, Philippines — This is your sign to prioritize your health.
Getting checked by doctors, especially around your intimate parts, can be a daunting task. But Erlidia Llamas-Clark, an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) and researcher from the Philippine General Hospital, assures women that the experience does not have to be intimidating.
OB-GYNs focus on female reproductive health concerns, including those related to the menstrual cycle, fertility, pregnancy, and sexual activity. But these specialists also look out for a woman’s overall health and may consider other factors beyond the reproductive system.
These medical practitioners, according to Clark, are trained to listen with an open mind to ensure that patients are in good condition.
“The intimate stuff that they cannot tell anybody, usually the OB-GYNs are able to deconstruct,” she said. “They come here to us and then, they know that you can talk about the intimate stuff with no judgments.”
Here are some things you should know before your next visit:
When you should see an OB-GYN
All females, even those as young as 11 years old, can seek the help of an OB-GYN.
Although there is no set guideline for how often women should visit an OB-GYN, Clark encourages adult women to get checked up at least once a year.
“I always tell them, take care of yourself, and the biggest birthday gift for you is every year, don’t forget your health,” she said. “So, when your birthday draws near, get a pap smear, a scan, and a breast exam. Allow that to be your me-time.”
But outside regular check-ups, women should look out for any symptom and sensation that does not feel normal.
In particular, Clark said that those assigned female at birth must observe their menstrual cycle, which typically lasts between 21 and 35 days. They must consider seeing a doctor if their cycles are longer, shorter, or more painful than their usual.
“It’s not normal if it really hurts, especially if it affects your daily activities, or if you get severe pain because of heavy bleeding symptoms,” she said.
Parents could also consult an OB-GYN if their adolescent daughter does not show signs of puberty — such as breast development, growth of body hair, or menstruation — by the age of 15 or 16.
Although it is more common in boys, delayed puberty could be a sign of an underlying condition that may need to be addressed, according to the UK National Health Service.
What to expect during the check-up
During a consultation, OB-GYNs run through a checklist of symptoms that patients feel from head to toe so they could rule out any unrelated diseases or illnesses.
These doctors also use different kinds of tools to check for infection or masses around the reproductive system or on the breasts. Here are some of the tests typically done by OB-GYNs:
- Ultrasounds are used to help medical professionals see inside your body, whether it’s to investigate pains or lumps, monitor conditions, or check a baby’s development. This can be done over the abdomen (transabdominal), through the vagina (transvaginal), or through the anus (transrectal).
- A pap smear is done to check for precancers or cell changes on the cervix. Doctors would use a speculum to widen the vaginal canal, take cells from the cervix with a small brush, and check those cells for irregularities using a microscope. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that women as young as 21 years old could get a pap test, which can be done every three years if the result comes back normal.
- Mammograms detect cancer and other diseases by compressing the breast between two plates to capture detailed X-ray images. Clark said that this should be done by women aged 40 years old and above.
But more than conducting screenings and providing diagnoses, OB-GYNs discuss how the female reproductive system works with their patients, while creating a safe space for them to voice any concerns or seek clarification.
“I mean, until now, I think some people find [reproductive health] taboo or still rely on hearsay. So it’s good that you encourage them to ask questions about their body,” Clark said.
Living a healthy life
Caring for one’s health goes beyond check-ups. Women can do wonders for themselves by eating the right food and keeping an active lifestyle.
“Empower yourself to make choices, from good food, diet, good books to read,” Clark said. “One life is not enough, and it is too short. So women should really look after themselves to be healthy.”
The World Health Organization said that to achieve a healthy diet, people must eat more fruits and vegetables, eat less sugar, and limit salt intake. It also encourages more than 300 minutes of exercise per week.
Girls from across the globe take on many roles in society, whether at home, at work, or in their communities. But to properly fulfill these responsibilities, according to Clark, women must learn to put a premium on their health and seek help whenever necessary.
“Dapat preventive, love yourself in a way, kasi hindi mo magagawa lahat ng trabaho mo, lahat ng tungkol sa pamilya mo, or kung anong pa ang gusto mong gawin sa buhay mo kung hindi ka healthy,” she said.
(We should be preventive, love yourself in a way, because you cannot do all your work, take care of your family, or anything else you want to do with your life if you aren’t healthy.) — Rappler.com
Some quotes were translated in English for brevity
