What should every woman do to maintain good gynaecological health?
Ask the average person what the most important things in their life are and there should be a popular answer; their health. Since the dawn of time, humans have exercised and watched their diet in order to stay healthy - so why do so many women neglect their gynaecological health? There are lots of ways you can keep in tip-top shape without spending a penny or leaving the comfort of your home. From lifestyle changes to smear tests here are the 5 things every woman should do to maintain good gynaecological health. 1) Watch your stress levels Stress is a major factor in affecting periods and period pains. Dysmenorrhea (period pain) affects most women at some point in their lives and while there is a multitude of medical conditions that can cause painful periods, stress is often involved. Stress isn͛t just a feeling, it͛s a chemical process our body uses to tell us something͛s wrong. One of the chemicals released when feeling stressed, Cortisol, can interact with other, more delicate chemical messages inside the body - scientists believe this could be why even small amounts of mental stress can cause severe physical pain. If you͛re prone to uncomfortable periods, ask yourself whether a hectic lifestyle could be the culprit. 2) Get the HPV vaccine Almost all cases of cervical cancer and a worrying number of vulval cancers are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35 in the UK so it͛s vital that women get the jab if they want to be protected. HPV often doesn͛t cause any symptoms until it͛s too late and many people don͛t realise they͛re infected. If you͛re not vaccinated and over 18, you can͛t get the free HPV vaccine through the NHS so you͛ll need to pay for a private treatment. It͛s a small price to pay to stay cancer-free.