Women's health refers to health issues specific to human female anatomy. These often relate to structures such as
female genitalia and
breasts or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in, females. Women's health issues include
menstruation,
contraception,
maternal health,
child birth,
menopause and
breast cancer. They can also include medical situations in which women face problems not directly related to their biology, for example gender-differentiated access to medical treatment.
Women's health is an issue which has been taken up by many
feminists, especially where
reproductive health is concerned. One example of this is the
Cartwright Inquiry in
New Zealand, in which research by two feminist journalists revealed that women with
cervical abnormalities were not receiving treatment, as part of an experiment. The women were not told of the abnormalities and several later died. In many countries feminists have campaigned for the right to legal and safe
abortion, arguing that it is a health rather than a moral issue. In countries where
contraception is difficult to access, campaigns for readily available contraception are conducted on the same lines. Conversely, there have also been campaigns against potentially dangerous forms of contraception such as defective
IUDs.
Some health and medical research advocates, particularly the
Society for Women's Health Research in the United States, define women's health more broadly than issues specific to human female anatomy to include areas where biological sex differences between women and men exist. Research has demonstrated significant biological differences between the sexes in rates of susceptibility, symptoms and response to treatment in many major areas of health, including heart disease and some cancers.
Bone Health
Taking proton pump inhibitors (like Prevacid, Nexium, or Prilosec), drugs that decrease stomach acid are a risk for bone fractures if taken for two or more years. This happens because of a decreased absorption of calcium in the stomach.
