Certain health concerns are unique to women. Here’s what to watch out for at every age.
Although men and women are faced with many of the same health issues throughout their lives, some health concerns are unique to women. Educating yourself about what the most common women’s health issues are—and how they change over the course of a woman’s lifetime—can be empowering. Moreover, understanding your distinctive health needs is an important key to preventing disease, staying well, and thriving.
The 8 most common female health problems
The health problems that women experience vary based on their age, their genetics, and their lifestyles. Some health issues, while they can occur for both women and men, affect women more commonly or severely than men, including:
- Alcohol abuse
- Heart disease
- Mental health issues
- Osteoarthritis
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Stress
- Stroke
- Urinary tract health
What are common diseases that only affect females?
Some of the most common diseases in women are ones that men can also get, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. But some diseases are only common in women. These are diseases that involve female organs, such as the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina. These organs can develop cysts, fibroids, or cancers.
Because of these organs’ close proximity to the gastrointestinal system, Teresa Yanchak, MD, a gastroenterologist with Associates in Gastroenterology in Colorado Springs, says that she sees women-specific digestive issues in her practice.
“There are multiple GI issues that occur more commonly in women,” Dr. Yanchak says. “These include irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), gallstones, autoimmune liver disease, celiac disease, and pelvic floor dysfunction.”
Besides physical health, certain mental health conditions are more common in women. Women more likely than men to experience depression and anxiety, and suicide is a leading cause of death for women under age 60. Additionally, violence and domestic abuse are disproportionally inflicted on women: 1 in 3 women will experience physical or sexual abuse by the time they are 50.
Women’s health conditions at every age
When you know what to watch out for at every age, it can help you stay healthier and be aware of issues before they become serious.
What age do health problems start for women?
Health issues can crop up at any time during a woman’s life. Many sexual and reproductive health issues occur between the ages of 15 and 44. But, serious conditions such as cancer or heart disease are more likely to develop in midlife, from age 50 on.
Health problems in teens
Thankfully, major health problems are rare in teen girls. The most common complaints from teens involve menstruation, says Luis Murrain, DO, reproductive endocrinologist, OB-GYN, co-founder and partner physician at Dreams Fertility. “As girls enter the teenage years, things such as endometriosis and dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cycles) may present,” Dr. Murrain explains.
According to the Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP), 50%-75% of teen girls report painful periods (dysmenorrhea), which can include cramps, back pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sweating. Teen girls also often report irregular periods. Menstrual cramps are treated with pain relief medication, including ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. Birth control pills are prescribed to effectively decrease menstrual cramps, for contraception, and to regulate periods.
Health problems in 20s
As women become more sexually active in their 20s, sexual health, and STIs are top health concerns. In fact, according to the CDC, half of all reported STIs are from 15- to 24-year-olds. “In the 20s, health issues such as sexually transmitted infections and pelvic inflammatory disease become an issue, which can have a lasting effect on a woman’s fertility,” Dr. Murrain says.
Prevention is key when it comes to STIs. Using condoms during sexual contact reduces your risk of contracting an STI. STIs caused by bacteria or parasites can be treated with antibiotics, but there is no cure for STIs that stem from a virus. Still, viral STIs, like genital herpes, can be managed with chronic medication reducing symptoms and transmission to future sexual partners. There are effective and safe vaccines given to pediatric patients to decrease hepatitis B and HPV infections for a lifetime.
Health problems at 30
Many health problems facing women in their 30s involve fertility, and complications resulting from pregnancy and childbirth. The CDC estimates that 1 in 5 women between the ages of 30 to 39 will have trouble conceiving, and fertility declines starting at age 30 until age 45 or so. Additionally, conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth—including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia—can cause significant issues and can lead to death, if not treated promptly.
Staying healthy during your childbearing years involves eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, managing your stress, moderating your alcohol intake, and getting enough sleep. You should also take care to keep up with your yearly gynecological and general health exams. Women in their 30s should be doing monthly breast exams and monthly checks for abnormal moles or other skin changes.
Health problems in 40s
Women’s health after 40 centers includes symptoms of perimenopause, which is when your ovaries start releasing fewer eggs, your level of progesterone and estrogen decrease, and menstrual periods become irregular. Perimenopause can last two to 10 years: menopause is when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 months.
The decrease in ovarian hormones causes menstrual irregularities, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbance, pain with intercourse, infertility, weight gain, and moodiness. During this time, health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and infertility may also become more prominent, says Dr. Murrain.
Staying healthy and vibrant during your 40s involves eating well-balanced meals, and staying fit. Adding strength training to your fitness routine can keep your bones and muscles strong, help in weight management, and protect against osteoporosis. It’s vital that you complete your health screenings, including breast cancer and colon cancer screenings.
Female health problems after 50, and beyond
As women age, they face the gynecological symptoms that come with menopause, which may include urinary incontinence, vaginal atrophy and dryness, and pain with intercourse (dyspareunia), explains Dr. Murrain. Women also encounter health issues such as cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Cancer is the leading cause of death of women older than 45, followed by heart disease.
Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle as you age can help you live a longer and more enjoyable life. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily, and eat a diet rich with fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Keeping up with immunizations, doctor’s visits, and health screenings, is imperative as you age.
What are the most significant barriers to women’s health?
Women in the U.S. have poorer health outcomes when compared to women in other high-income countries. Additionally, there are huge disparities in healthcare for women of different socioeconomic, educational, and racial backgrounds. According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, there are a number of factors responsible for this including:
- Separation of reproductive health from women’s whole health and lack of integrated healthcare teams
- Insufficient medical training and clinical guidelines for providers on different disease progression specifically in women
- Use of treatment approaches developed for and focused on men
- Lack of consistent access to primary care due to time constraints, rising cost of care, or shortage of providers
- Sex- or gender-bias among providers that leads to dismissal of women’s health concerns as less severe than men’s
- Concerns about confidentiality of care
- Stigma and politicization of women’s reproductive issues
These above problems may lead to both less comprehensive and less women-focused care. Women may also skip routine visits that can catch issues early. We know that early detection improves health outcomes.
How to overcome these barriers
Some of the barriers to preventing good women’s healthcare are structural. However, prioritizing primary and preventive care are a first step to improving your health outcomes.
Schedule regular visits with your primary care doctor or OB-GYN. You should be a priority, no matter what. See a physician for checkups and screenings—or anytime that something feels wrong or off with your body. There are community health clinics offering lower cost treatment. These federally qualified health clinics (FQHCs) are often located in urban areas and on a bus-line. Consider a telehealth visit which may be less expensive (less work-time missed and no transportation cost) and less time consuming, for certain issues.
Preventive care is of utmost importance because it can prevent or minimize many of the common health issues that women experience. “Try to optimize your health as much as possible by getting regular exercise, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, and maintaining healthy interpersonal connections,” says Dr. Murrain.