Being Frank About Women’s Issues + Solutions

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I am going to start off with letting you know this post will be discussing women’s health issues and may make some men and even women uncomfortable. Please check out some of our other posts if that is you 🙂

I can’t believe I am sharing this information with you but I feel like it is all kinds of important to mention some of the ‘yucky’ side-effects of getting pregnant. My body became a cesspool of bacteria, infections, kidney stones and even my thyroid stopped working. I joke that I will never, not ever, be having any more kids but the reason is not because I don’t want more–it’s because I honestly think I would die if it happened again.

With every single pregnancy, I developed Bacterial Vaginosis which is like a yeast infection. I really didn’t need to get a pregnancy test because this was ALWAYS the first symptom. PSSST…there’s a way to fix it below!

On top of this I also got Ecoli in my urine which didn’t go away until I had the baby. I was referred to infectious diseases for this one because I was on antibiotics the whole pregnancy with no change.

Then there was the time I thought I was dying thanks to my first ever kidney stone–> I would have unmedicated childbirth again to never have to feel that pain again.

Probably the kicker was the anemia that only shows up when I am being the host to a growing fetus and sudden onset of hypothyroidism. This is one pregnancy. This is only 35 weeks. This is so, so, so many pills and doctors visits.

I wish I knew about some of the solutions that Bayer carries so that I could at least send my hubby to the pharmacy to bring me relief.

#NoShame Women’s Issues

Women are facing more challenges than ever. Between balancing health, work, family, and personal life, the daily pressures on women are as high as they’ve ever been. Yet, women are expected to handle this burden on their own. Instead, we should be creating open forums, places where women of all ages can come and discuss their challenges, especially as it relates to women’s health.

We’re often reluctant, even embarrassed, to discuss health issues, especially intimate health; but more often than not, I find that the conversations we don’t want to have are usually the most important. So today, we’re going to talk frankly about women’s health, with #NoShame! No question is stupid, and no woman should feel ashamed to ask them (especially the most intimate ones!) when it comes to her overall well-being.

• Having constipation is not a pleasant feeling. Not only does it cause abdominal pain or discomfort, but it can also affect how you feel about yourself in public, often making you feel self-conscious about your belly, or how your favourite pair of jeans are fitting. So don’t let occasional constipation stand in the way of your day; with RestoraLAX®, you can effectively restore your body’s natural rhythm without the side effects like cramps, bloating or gas.

• Urinary incontinence is another subject that can be a taboo for many people, but why? According to CanadianContinence.ca, as many as 3.3 million Canadians (nearly 10% of the general population) experience some form of it, with 33% of women over the age of 40 experiencing symptoms. Like most taboo topics, we feel the need to hide it from others because we think it’s less common than it really is! The Canadian Continence Foundation website has useful information from doctors and tips on how to manage it.

• When people think of vaginal issues, the first thought usually jumps to UTIs or yeast infections. The not-so-talked-about Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is a very common occurring infection. BV can occur when the pH balance in the vagina is affected, as a high pH level allows growth of undesirable bacterial microorganisms.  The main symptoms associated with BV are odour and abnormal discharge. The makers of Canesten have launched CanesBalance® to help you treat the symptoms of the infection by restoring the normal vaginal pH level and relieving abnormal vaginal discharge and odour.

• Every month, women all over the world go through the discomfort of cramps, bloating, even headaches with our periods. But what if I told you we don’t have to let our periods take control anymore! With Midol®, you can help relieve these common symptoms, and finally take control of your calendar.

• On the other side to that, we often feel uncomfortable talking about menopause. For whatever reason, we women don’t like to talk about it, but it is a natural process. It is an important natural life-stage, one that we shouldn’t shy away from discussing. It can be challenging, both physically and emotionally to deal with on your own, but at the same time, there are many ways you can prepare for it. For example, ensuring you have a nutritious diet, and are balancing stress in your life are important tips, along with talking to your doctor and family/friends who may have already gone through menopause.

Whatever the case or issue, let’s make a habit out of talking about it frankly and openly – we should never feel ashamed about discussing our health, and you are never alone! If you want more information about women’s health issues and a solution for yeast and bacterial vaginosis before it happens to you check out this post. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these taboo subjects, and things you’ve done to help fuel the conversations.

Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

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