Women are awesome!
We have remarkable, transformative bodies. Bodies that can grow another human, breasts that can nourish them, periods that signpost our monthly hormone cycles and hormonal events that mark the beginning and end of these cycles at puberty and menopause. It is so important that we support and care for these ever-changing bodies, and who better to help us do this than our fellow females? This week is Women’s Health Week and is all about women supporting women to improve their health and wellbeing. We can find this support in our mothers, sisters, friends, colleagues and health professionals.
The support that women can provide one another is invaluable as we face a series of unique changes in our bodies over our lifespan; from periods to fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding, menopause and beyond. Often our first port of call when we experience an issue in areas of women’s health is to discuss things with females close to us. We can help to normalise the shared experience, or we can flag differences that may direct someone to see a health care professional. It is so important that women’s health is no longer held as taboo because open and honest discussion leads to sharing of knowledge and better health outcomes over all. My colleague, Dr Peta Wright, is encouraging us to do this in her upcoming event, ‘My Greatest Period Ever’, a celebration of the menstrual cycle and what it means to be a woman.
Clementine Ford said in her book, Fight Like a Girl, ‘The best thing you can do for your self-esteem, your sanity, your sense of accomplishment, your happiness and your inner strength is to find yourself a solid girl gang’. Close female relationships are so beneficial to our mental health. We can share our concerns and challenges (whether they be related to health, work or parenting) and offer each other relevant solutions. Often opening up to someone who truly understands you and your situation can help to relieve all manner of stress and anxiety. I find time spent in the company of my close friends to be as important to my happiness as regular exercise and always feel like a weight has been lifted after our time shared together. And having recently returned to work after having my baby, I have found my colleagues here at Eve to be an endless source of support in navigating the work-life juggle. To me, these women are my greatest source of inspiration.
We also have to support ourselves and be advocates for our own wellbeing. It is all too easy to get caught up in our hectic lives whether it be working, studying, caring for children and family members, or a combination of all three. Carving out our own time and space can be difficult but is so important to our general health. It might be making time for exercise, a hobby, yoga or meditation. In whatever form, a little time to connect with ourselves each week can give us the mental and physical replenishment we need to reduce stress and actually enjoy each and every moment.
At Eve Health we have a wonderful team of doctors, physiotherapists, a dietician, a psychologist, midwives, nurses and administrative staff. We work at Eve because we are passionate about women’s health. Just like your friends and family, we are here to help and support you through your journey so you can get onto living your best life.
Whether your concern is fertility, obstetrics, or gynaecology related, we would love to support you.
Comments are closed.