A better understanding of your whole body from your hair to the sole of your feet, both the external & internal organs can be of health benefits as you go through life.
Familiarity with your body can help you make healthful choices and prompt you to take appropriate action when signs of illness arise.
At some point, everyone will have a problem with some aspect of his or her body and your knowledge can help you to be a better parent, spouse, partner, friend, colleague, or caregiver. `
Now Ladies, let’s get down there!
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR BODY?
It is important to know what’s normal for you and what’s not normal as a woman because a woman’s body goes through a lot of changes in their lifetime. The more you know about your body, the better able you will be to take care of yourself.
When you understand your body and your normal changes, you will be able to recognize if something happens because of your disability or if it is a normal change that happens to all women. This will also help you decide for yourself if the advice others give you is helpful or harmful.
It is important to be able to ask questions and express your feelings, especially your confusion and fears, about your changing body and emotions. This is throughout your entire life, when puberty, sexuality, fertility and childbearing, and menopause can signal great changes for your body and your health.
When you accept your physical development, emotions, and sexual feelings, you can care for and respect yourself as a woman. Take the time to examine your own feelings and share them with others.
I’m very sure our mothers have never uttered the word “Vagina” when growing up most of them will refer to the vagina by just pointing at it.
So what were you told about your genitals when growing up and what are we teaching our girls presently?
Well thanks to the high-speed information age, some girls feel they are now quite informed about their vaginal & sexual health but not really, they’re still misinformed about some important facts about the vaginal well being.
WHEN DOES THE BODY START TO CHANGE?
In as much as we may all look different physically, most women’s body goes through the same changes during their lifetime.
This is when you need to start taking notes of these changes to know what’s normal for you.
PUBERTY
Sometime between the ages of 9 and 15, a girl’s body begins to grow and change into a woman’s body. This is called puberty. Your disability will not prevent this from also happening to you. All these changes are normal and can happen to any girl, whether or not she has a disability.
Here are the main changes you will notice during puberty:
- You grow taller and rounder.
- Hair grows under your arms and between your legs, on your genitals.
- Your breasts grow as they become able to make milk for babies after pregnancy.
- Inside your body, the womb (uterus), tubes, ovaries, and vagina grow and change position.
- Wetness (discharge) starts to come out of your vagina. • Your monthly bleeding starts (period, menstruation).
- You begin to have more sexual thoughts and urges. • Your face may get oily, and pimples or spots may grow.
- You may sweat more, and your sweat may smell different than it did before puberty.
These changes are natural and normal. Changes in your body and in your feelings help you be aware that you are changing into a woman who is ready to have a sexual relationship and who can get pregnant.
HORMONES
Many of the changes a girl experiences while her body is changing are caused by hormones. These are chemicals your body makes that control how and when your body grows. A little while before your first monthly bleeding starts, your body starts to produce more of the hormones called estrogen and progesterone; the 2 main hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.
Hormones also control when a woman can get pregnant by controlling when her ovaries will release an egg (one egg every month) and allowing her breasts to make milk to feed her baby after she gives birth. Many family planning methods work to prevent pregnancy by controlling the hormones in a woman’s body
While these changes are happening, here are the key things every woman should be conscious of, so we’re alert when anything seems off. From Dr. Eleanor Atkins, Clinical Fellow at Bupa UK
PERIODS
It’s actually easy to forget the exact date your period started but knowing your period inside out is important so you can tell if something is wrong.
If your period is lighter or shorter than normal it may be a sign of physical or mental exhaustion caused by over-exercising, a strict diet, or stress, She notes, adding that “abnormal or irregular bleeding can be a sign of something
WHAT DO YOUR BREASTS FEEL LIKE
Just like the experts would say that regularly checking your breasts can help with the early detection of breast cancer but this relies on knowing what they feel like, to begin with, to detect anything unusual.
“Due to hormones, your breasts may feel different at various times of the month so it is important to check them at the same time each month,” Dr. Atkins says.
We recommend checking your breasts a week after starting your period, make sure you’re examining from the middle of your chest and through to the underarm.
It’s normal for your breasts to feel tender during your period, but if there’s any sign of a lump, changes in skin texture, or appearance of nipples, it is important to seek medical advice.”
HOW OFTEN DO YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM
“We are all different and will use the bathroom with varying levels of frequency,” Dr. Atkins explains, noting it should never be something to feel embarrassed about. “Being aware of how frequently you urinate or empty your bowels and what comes out is one of many ways you can monitor how well your body is functioning.
The consistency, colour, or smell of your poo or urine can indicate whether you are hydrated enough; have a gastrointestinal problem; or suffering from something more serious such as cancer,” she advises.
“If you suddenly need to use the bathroom more often or your bowels are looser than normal, if it causes pain, or if you notice blood in your bowel movements or urine, talk to your doctor to see what may be causing this,” the expert says. “It could be a sign of a digestive disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome, something common and benign like haemorrhoids, or something more serious such as bowel cancer.”
HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH
No, not so you can beat yourself up about how heavy you are. “Your weight can be another useful health indicator. Due to hormones, many women’s weight may fluctuate by a few pounds throughout the month.
However, sudden or unexpected weight loss is a visible sign of a change within your body,” explains Dr. Atkins. “Sudden weight gain could be a result of hormonal imbalance and potentially a sign of menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or pregnancy.
An unexplained weight loss could be a symptom of an over-active thyroid, gastroenteritis, or something as serious as stomach or throat cancer.”
THE CONSISTENCY AND COLOR OF YOUR VAGINAL DISCHARGE
Every discharge is normal but not every discharge is normal. So many ladies get worried or even confused about their discharge if it’s normal or not
They think any amount is a sign of infection when, really, it shows that your vagina’s self-cleaning action is working the way it should. Discharge should be clear or very light yellow and shouldn’t be sticky or have a bad odor to it and if it does that’s a sign of an infection that needs treatment immediately.
When it comes to consistency, it can be a lot, and the variety has to do with changes in your menstrual cycle. When you ovulate, it’s clear, slippery, and more abundant. After you release an egg, the discharge gets cloudier and thicker.
Lastly, every woman should have an intimate health guide. The what, why, and how you should take care of your delicate part.
An Intimate health guide is there to keep you in check, to know the changes that come at some point in your body, to help you answer those burning questions about your sexual health, and to know when something feels off down there and how to handle it.