Gender-Specific Diseases in Women And How to Overcome Them
There are certain diseases that affect a woman’s health the most but in order to recognize them it is important we accept the presence of gender-specific diseases.
Men and women have equal rights when it comes to social life and their rights as residents of the state but there remains the stark biological difference between the two genders. The male and female body acts differently under different circumstances; their needs vary according to the ways the body reacts to certain instances. Their immune system, too, react in very different ways, and as a result, there are certain diseases that are highly likely to affect one gender more than the other. This is the reason why gender-based prevention measures are extremely necessary, and any ignorance in the area can be a great cause of health degradation for anyone.
Like men, women face many diseases that are gender specific and need to be treated in a specific way. Even diseases that are similar between men and women might have unique consequences on women. In order to have a better idea about what these gender specific diseases can be, we have listed top 5 of them below:
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD): Often passed through sexual contact, STDs can be dangerous because sometimes they do not show any symptoms at all. However, if left untreated STDs can lead to fertility problems and an increased risk of cervical cancer. According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 50% of genital herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhea affects women between the age group of 16- 25 years old. This can take an adverse effect on the woman’s reproductive system. In order to keep a check on STDs it is important to maintain a regular check-up schedule, especially if you are sexually active.
- HIV/AIDS: Speaking of STDs, women account for almost more than half the number of people suffering from HIV positive, worldwide. Women below the age of 25 years are more likely to acquire the virus than men of the same age. In fact, AIDS-related illness continues to remain one of the leading causes of death for women between the age of 15 to 49 years. Treatment in such cases continues to remain limited due to the unnecessary social bias against intercourse prior marriage. The lack of consideration for women who are victimized and significant barrier in healthcare is the leading cause behind the lack of treatment. It is first important to accept women’s position in the society as individual beings whose body needs to be treated with as much care as anybody else’s body.
- Autoimmune Diseases: It is one of those cases where the body fails to identify with itself and begins to attack its own immune system. The immune system guards our body against foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. However, in this case the immune system is unable to differentiate between the host and the guest, and begins to perceive the body as a threat to itself when it begins to release proteins called antibodies which attack healthy cells. While the reason remains unknown, women’s immune systems are more likely to turn against them than men’s. In such cases researchers suspect the environment might be at fault which requires women to maintain a healthier diet and a proper lifestyle than men.
- Maternal Health Disease: As much as bearing a child is gift, it can often be a major cause of health degradation for women who are not ready to bear a child. Pregnancy can often lead to several complications where mothers are often reported dead during childbirth. This is caused by several factors such as environmental hostilities, unplanned pregnancy and unhealthy lifestyle which causes damage to the mother’s health. As much as any woman would love to carry a child, there are cases where the body itself begins to reject the presence of another life inside it. To prevent such cases it is important that mothers who are expecting keep away from unhealthy habits like smoking and eat healthier, resorting mainly to fruits and vegetables.
- Breast Cancer: Women are most vulnerable to breast cancer as it appears like a lump in the breast tissue. More than often factors like obesity, alcoholism, hormone replacement therapy, and any prior history of breast cancer in the family can lead to the disease attacking the woman. It most commonly develops in the cells lining from the milk ducts and the lobules, and can be confirmed by taking a biopsy of the concerning lump. Breast cancer is one of the chief reasons why women are advised not to smoke and it is important to keep a check on even the tiniest lumps on the breast so that an early detection can lead to proper cure.
