Doctor Victoria Valdés, a gynecologist specializing in menopause at Olympia Quirónsalud and a member of the Spanish Association for the Study of Menopause (AEEM), has stressed that "women's health has been traditionally undervalued," which "has led many to accept as normal symptoms that can and should be treated."
As she explained, "pathologies such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome continue to be underdiagnosed, partly because historically little attention has been paid to certain female health problems and because some diagnoses can be complex," so that this normalization of symptoms affects, according to the center, "the quality of life and health of millions of women."
On the occasion of International Women's Health Action Day, which is commemorated this Thursday, May 28, Olympia Quirónsalud has recalled that "intense menstrual pain, urinary incontinence, very irregular periods, hot flashes, or sleep disturbances are some of the discomforts that many women have accepted as a natural part of different stages of their lives."
The specialist emphasizes that "however, behind these symptoms there may be pathologies or hormonal alterations that require medical evaluation and treatment," although she also notes that "more and more women are consulting when they have painful or very irregular periods." "This is allowing us to better diagnose and treat these pathologies," she pointed out.
In any case, Valdés recalls that "there are diseases, such as endometriosis, that are not always easy to identify." She also warns that "one of the areas where there is still the most ignorance and stigma is menopause" and that, "beyond the end of the reproductive stage," hormonal changes "have a global impact on the body."
Menopause: hot flashes, insomnia, and increased health risks
The gynecologist explains that "estrogens act in the brain, joints, or cardiovascular system," and adds that "the hormonal decline of menopause not only causes symptoms that worsen quality of life but can also increase certain health risks." Among the most common manifestations are "hot flashes, especially intense during the hot months, as well as insomnia, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating."
In this regard, she details that "when hot flashes worsen, sleep is also disturbed, and this generates a chain of events that affects the woman's physical and emotional well-being." For this reason, she regrets that menopause "continues to be an insufficiently addressed stage both from a medical and social point of view."
Valdés insists that "there is still a significant deficit in training and a lot of stigma," and considers it essential to promote "more health education, more awareness, and that women know that they do not have to resign themselves to living with symptoms that affect their quality of life."
Urinary incontinence, pelvic floor, and long-term prevention
In relation to pelvic floor dysfunctions and urinary incontinence, which Olympia Quirónsalud defines as "another problem that many patients experience in silence," the specialist indicates that "many women delay consultation due to shame or because they believe it is inevitable, but there are multiple therapeutic, medical, and surgical options that can significantly improve their quality of life."
At the same time, she highlights "the decisive role of prevention and healthy habits in protecting women's health in the long term." In her opinion, "physical exercise, healthy eating, and rest are the three fundamental pillars for preventing cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and loss of autonomy over the years," and she concludes by recalling that, "in the face of any symptom or worsening, one should always consult."