The 7 Most Common Diseases in Women and How to Prevent

Health is a theme that is in our lives all the time, no matter what we do or what actions we take in our day to day, we always need to be aware of possible diseases and problems that our health can present us.

Disease prevention is simple and must be strictly followed, but unfortunately not everyone is aware of the importance of having some habits that can save us from experiencing serious problems with our health.

In the case of women, special care is needed. The female body is full of singularities , since it is the woman who carries another life within herself, who has an extremely complex reproductive system, in addition to other characteristics that go far beyond the particularities of a pregnancy or menstruation.

For this reason, some diseases appear more frequently in women, or only in women. We have separated a list of the 7 most common diseases of women and show some ways to prevent and take care of themselves, preventing them from occurring.

There are diseases that are exclusively female, such as the appearance of fibroids and some specific types of cancer, such as cervical cancer . Discharges and menstrual cramps are among the list of common problems that are easy to treat, but there are others that are a little more complex and require more delicate medical treatment.

There are also diseases that the majority believe to be only in women, but which can also affect men, albeit to a lesser extent. It is the case of diseases such as  breast cancer , candidiasis and  urinary tract infection . Find out here what are the main symptoms of these diseases and some forms of prevention that you can use.

1 – Candidiasis

Candidiasis is an infection caused by Candida fungi , especially Candida albicans . These fungi are found almost everywhere. Some may live harmlessly together with the common and “native” species of bacteria that normally inhabit the regions of the mouth, gastrointestinal tract and vagina.

Candida is normally kept under control by native bacteria and the immunity system of women’s bodies. However, if the mixture of native bacteria is altered by antibiotics, the moisture in the body that surrounds these bacteria can also have subtle changes in its acidity or chemistry. This can cause Candida fungi to increase and disrupt the body’s natural balance , which can cause candidiasis.

Symptoms of Candidiasis

The most common symptoms of Candidiasis are:

  • Whitish vaginal discharge;
  • Itch;
  • Burning when urinating;
  • Pain during sexual intercourse.

How to Prevent Candidiasis

As it is a disease that is related to low immunity, it is good to always be attentive when taking medications such as antibiotics, when exchanging contraceptives and even with hygiene and eating habits. Avoiding the constant use of tampons and tight clothing also helps prevent candidiasis.

2 – HPV

HPV is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the papilloma virus . The virus can cause warts on the skin, anus, vagina and other parts of the body. There are more than 100 variations of the papilloma virus, which can be a major concern.

How to prevent HPV

However, prevention of this disease is easy: Having sex with the use of condoms and always being up to date with your Pap test. Thus, contracting the HPV virus is very difficult, and even if it is contracted, treating it from the beginning makes the symptoms more subtle and disappear with greater agility.

Importance of Treatment

Its treatment is of great importance, since the disease is seen as a predecessor of cervical cancer. In its advanced state, HPV can cause this type of cancer.

3 – Urinary infection

Urinary tract infection is one of the most common diseases in women and the reason is very simple. Unlike men, the female urethra is located near the anus, that is, close to several bacteria that inhabit the end of our digestive system and that can invade the urethra and go into the bladder.

In addition, women may be especially prone to getting a urinary tract infection because they have a shorter urethra , which allows bacteria to readily access your bladder. A sexual act done without care can also introduce bacteria into the urinary tract.

How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infection

The prevention of urinary tract infection is simple. The cleaning of the vagina should be performed every time you urinate. It is extremely important never to use the same condom to have anal and vaginal sex. With these basic and minimal care it is possible to reduce the chances of occurrences of urinary infection.

4 – Breast cancer

The most common type of cancer in women is breast cancer. This cancer affects millions of women every year and when treated late, it reduces the chances of a cure. To get a sense, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in Brazil, behind only heart disease.

Women who had a very early menstruation and women who have a family history of the disease should be more aware, as the exact cause of the formation of breast cancer is not known.

How to Prevent Breast Cancer

Prevention should be done through self-examination, where you should check for any signs of lumps or different formations in your breasts. Remember that the sooner breast cancer is discovered, the more likely it is to be treated and overcome.

5 – Depression

Although it also affects men on a large scale, depression is often more common in women. Studies show that women are twice as likely as men to have depression.

Symptoms of Depression

Some of the reasons for this are hormonal fluctuations and postpartum trauma and menopause , but it is not yet known exactly why this disease develops so easily in women. The main symptoms of the disease are:

  • Lack of motivation;
  • Loss of pleasure in carrying out activities that were once pleasant;
  • Continuous sadness;
  • Social isolation.

How to Prevent Depression

There is no prevention guide for depression, some of the most common illnesses among women show no sign that they can appear and just arrive. However, the treatment against depression can be done smoothly and with due psychological monitoring.

6- Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the smooth muscle of the uterus. In most cases it has no symptoms, while others may have painful or intense menstrual periods. If large, they can push the bladder causing frequent urination.

Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids

They can also cause pain during sex or low back pain. A woman can have only one fibroid or many of them. Occasionally, this type of illness can cause problems for a woman to become pregnant, although this is not very common and can also cause some problems during pregnancy.

How to Prevent Uterine Fibroids

Prevention is done with routine examinations that must be carried out annually to check and monitor women’s health. When treated early on, it is possible to control or even reduce the size of fibroids using medications such as contraceptives.

If it is not controlled by medication, there are treatment options through embolization of the uterine artery or the performance of a surgical procedure to remove the fibroid. In more severe cases, hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) may be necessary.

7- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The polycystic ovary syndrome or simply PCOS, is a metabolic problem where women can develop cysts in the ovaries that increase their size. Women with polycystic ovaries have irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty getting pregnant, in addition to developing insulin resistance, which can cause diabetes.

How to Prevent PCOS

Like depression and other common illnesses in women , there is no way to prevent polycystic ovary syndrome. It is not even known exactly what its origin is, although many believe that the disease may have genetic causes. Despite this, there are treatments for the reduction and control of symptoms.

Taking care of your health is important at any age. Many of the diseases mentioned here can be prevented and also treated, especially if discovered early. For this reason, care with the forms of prevention and carrying out the necessary examinations on a regular basis are essential. Acquiring awareness that you are the primary agent and responsible for your own health is of the utmost importance and benefit to you.

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My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.

Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

Dr. Alexis Hart

My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

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