Features of women’s health

In the conditions of war, some Ukrainian women do not have the ability, and sometimes the desire, to properly take care of their health. It is important to understand that problems related to a woman's health will not disappear by themselves, but on the contrary, they can cause even more damage to the body. How stress affects women's health and how to take care of yourself in emergencies MEDplus asked gynecologist Daria Petrusevych.

Petrusevich Daria

Gynecologist

Then direct speech:

During a severe stressful situation, the hypothalamus, a tiny part of the brain that triggers the stress response, signals the adrenal gland to forcefully produce the stress hormone — cortisol.

Cortisol suppresses the work of the hypothalamus, and it stops producing releasing hormones. And the function of the pituitary gland hormones (FSH and LH), which are responsible for reproduction and “shout”: “Hey, ovaries, it’s time for the follicles to mature, and you, the egg, don’t delay and go out to meet the sperm,” is disrupted. In this state, the body produces many neurotransmitters that block the production of the necessary hormones and inhibit the activity of the uterus and ovaries. As a result — lack of ovulation, failure of the menstrual cycle, and short-term problems with pregnancy.

The duration of the menstrual cycle is normally 21 to 35 days.

The duration of period and ovulation (when the chance of conception is the highest) may differ for each woman, depending on the length of the cycle and individual characteristics of the body.

What can be done to restore menstruation?

1. Minimize the impact of the stressor as much as possible.
2. Try to sleep for 7-9 hours for full recovery of the body.
3. Follow a balanced and regular diet: your diet should include vegetables, fruits, cereals, meat/fish/eggs and nuts.
4. Limit excessive physical activity. But you shouldn’t ignore them at all. A leisurely walk in the evening will only have a positive effect on your health.
5. Take care of your mental health; if possible, seek help from specialists.

As long as there is a strong stress factor, menstruation may not “return”. Therefore, it is important to normalize your lifestyle and reduce stress factors to a minimum.

Often, in addition to a menstrual cycle failure, you can also face other consequences of stress:

• painful sensations in the mammary glands;
• appearance or worsening of hair loss or rashes on the face;
• deterioration of sleep;
• vaginitis or bacterial vaginosis;
• cystitis;
• milkmaid;
• bleeding.

It is crucial not to ignore recurring symptoms and pay attention to discharge. If the cycle has become irregular, the duration of the delay exceeds 3 months, critical days last more than 8 days, or there is bleeding at any other time of the cycle except for menses, this is a reason to consult a gynecologist.

Try to avoid stressful factors and follow the basic rules of hygiene:

1. Prefer pads. The optimal frequency of changing pads is every 2–3 hours. However, if it is not possible to change it in time, it is still better to give preference to pads rather than tampons or menstrual cups. So the risks for women’s health will be lower.
2. Do not skip the step of cleaning your hands before changing intimate hygiene products.
3. If it is impossible to wash for a long time, use napkins. Baby wet wipes are the best option. They usually do not contain alcohol, flavorings, or other additives. It is important to clean the external genitalia from front to back.
4. Remember that menstruation can start earlier than expected, so even if you expect to stay in the shelter for 1–2 hours, in the emergency suitcase there should be several pairs of clean underwear, menstrual hygiene products, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, and technical water.
5. If there is an opportunity to wash, you should not look for additional means, clean running water is quite enough.

Be healthy and take care of yourself!