DISPELLING COMMON MYTHS ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH.Byline: Dr. George Wilbanks Medical Tribune News Service Some myths about women's health Women's Health Definition Women's health is the effect of gender on disease and health that encompasses a broad range of biological and psychosocial issues. linger, despite evidence to the contrary. Test your knowledge of the following falsehoods. Myth: Breast cancer is the No. 1 killer of women today. Actually, the biggest health threat to women is heart disease. About 10 times as many women die from heart disease as breast cancer, and the major cancer killer of women is lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. . Myth: You can't get pregnant while breast-feeding breast-feeding /breast-feed·ing/ (brest´fed?ing) nursing; the feeding of an infant at the mother's breast. . It is true that while you are breast-feeding, you may not ovulate o·vu·late v. To produce ova; discharge eggs from the ovary. ovulate see ovulation. or have menstrual periods, which would lower your chances of getting pregnant. But because you will ovulate before your first post-pregnancy menstrual period, you can become pregnant while breast-feeding. Myth: Older women cannot get pregnant once menstruation ceases. Since a woman has not technically reached menopause until she has gone 12 months without her period, it still is possible to become pregnant during perimenopause perimenopause /peri·meno·pause/ (-men´o-pawz) the time just before and after menopause.perimenopau´sal per·i·men·o·pause n. (the time before menopause, when menstruation may be irregular). Women who do not want a pregnancy during this time should continue to use reliable contraception. Myth: The birth-control pill increases your risk of cancer. Use of oral contraceptives actually decreases your risk of certain cancers, lowering the risk of ovarian cancer by 40 percent, and cutting in half the risk of endometrial cancer. Most studies show that women who take birth-control pills have no greater risk of breast cancer than women who do not. Although one recent study showed a modest increase in breast-cancer risk for young women who had used the oral contraceptives, more studies will be needed to prove such a link. Myth: Women with fibroids Fibroids Benign tumors of muscle and connective tissue that develop within or are attached to the uterine wall. Mentioned in: Menstrual Disorders eventually will need a hysterectomy hysterectomy (hĭstərĕk`təmē), surgical removal of the uterus. A hysterectomy may involve removal of the uterus only or additional removal of the cervix (base of the uterus), fallopian tubes (salpingectomy), and ovaries . Women with uterine fibroids may need to do nothing at all other than get regular checkups, particularly if they do not experience any problems with their fibroids. These benign tumors often shrink or disappear after menopause. Women who experience problems - such as pain or heavy bleeding - may have the option of a myomectomy, surgery that removes the fibroids but spares the uterus. |
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