Women’s health: The answers to those tough questions

By Anthony Matt

Women’s bodies no doubt experience a lot of changes over a lifetime. Whether it’s your menstrual cycle, having a child or menopause, there are numerous hormonal changes as well as physical ones. A lot of these topics are tough to talk about and oftentimes considered taboo in some circles. The truth is, it’s all completely normal.

Dr. Andrea Lays, an Essentia Health OB/GYN says there is nothing to be embarrassed about, and plenty to learn from asking questions about your body and how it’s behaving, especially when it is going through these changes.

Question: Is it normal to leak urine when I cough or sneeze?

Answer: About 80% of women will leak urine when they cough or sneeze. A popular treatment would be to use something called a pessary, which is a little plastic device that can support the urethra. There is also pelvic floor physical therapy available to strengthen those pelvic floor muscles. Finally, there are surgeries and medications available as well.

Question: I am scared to get a pap test. Is that normal?

Answer: Many women are scared to have a pap test done. A pap test is a little Q-tip swab of the cervix. The sample is used to determine if there’s any precancerous cells or abnormal cells that could lead to cervical cancer in the future. The pap test itself is a very quick and easy procedure. But it can be very daunting for some. In seeing a provider who performs these tests, it's important to make sure you ask your questions prior to the exam and to feel comfortable with your provider. We all work very hard to make sure that you have a comfortable and easy experience with us.

Question: I am afraid to have sex after having my baby. Is that normal?

Answer: Many women are scared to have sex after having a baby. It’s important you realize that, while your body may feel different, it is still safe to have sex after having a baby. If you have questions on this topic, it’s very important to bring that up with your obstetric provider.

Question: What can I expect when it comes to menopause?

Answer: All women will go through menopause at some point in their lives. That journey can be very challenging for some and very easy for others. The most common symptoms of menopause are starting to feel some hot flashes or having night sweats. Another common symptom as you enter menopause is to have irregular periods. Sometimes you can skip your period for several months, but then when you do get a period it can be very heavy in the amount of flow you have and can be challenging to deal with. The overall menopause transition, on average, lasts about four years, finally ending when women stop having periods for about one year. After periods subside, the hot flashes and night sweats typically start to go away. But for some women, they can persist and there’s definitely treatment available to help deal with those. You can ask your doctor which is best for you as there are prescription and over-the-counter options. There are also lifestyle modifications that will make things easier. Be sure to wear cotton underwear, cotton clothing, dress in layers — so that you can peel off that sweater when you’re starting to get a hot flash — keep fans around you or have your bed be next to a window.

Question: Is sex supposed to be painful in menopause?

Answer: This is such a common question. The answer is it’s very common. But, no, there are definitely things we can do to make sex more comfortable despite being in menopause. One of the most common treatments is to replenish the body with estrogen in the form of a cream or a tablet or some kind of insert. That is definitely the most successful therapy, but there are other alternatives, which are nonprescription. D