Despite a growing body of new women's health research, the idea of equating women and men's health still persist. Fundamentally, a stage is set for simplifying women's health to a point of triggering dangerous health consequences for women. This is not to say that breaking complex subjects into simpler parts is wrong. In fact it is very important to do this in order to manage information overload. However, significant problems can arise whenever you make things simpler than they are. This is what I call the "theory-to-practice" dilemma. For example, the 10-day weight-loss diet might sound great at first, but in the end, short-cuts to health will always defeat your confidence as you end up weighing more than when you first started. If health issues were simple, medical and health professionals would have broken the code to health long ago. Unfortunately, many media messages continue to promote one-dimensional and over simplified solutions for women's sexual and overall health problems. Marketers know the time demands placed on modern women today and offer up seductive and tempting simple one-step solutions to complex problems such as sexual dysfunction. And so a vicious circle of poor health decisions is created. The consequences are more than minor.The social, physical and emotional impact of poor health choices impacts everything you do.Your quality of life depends on good health choices, yet women are at greater risk of making poor choices. Not because they are not informed, but because they are misinformed. Consider the following physiological differences between men and women: - Ibuprofen, as a pain reliever, is not as effective in women as in men.
- Men and women display different symptoms of heart attack. Chest pain is most common in men while women's symptoms are subtler, often characterized by generalized fatigue, abdominal pain and nausea
- Women with irritable bowel syndrome will respond better than men to certain types of treatment (serotonin receptor antagonist).
- Men and women absorb and excrete some drugs in different ways and at different rates. Some drugs are more effective in women while others have more severe side effects in women than in men.
Clearly women are different then men. More importantly, women are more sexually sophisticated than men! Now the question is what to do? Make sure when you research a potential product that the product claims are based on female-subject research. You will find that most are not; this is just a fact of science. When this happens do not completely discard the science, but become more active in asking your health care provider questions about how the medication or treatment is different for women. Never assume your doctor will tell you about gender differences! You should especially be watchful of products sold on the Internet. The biggest problem with most websites is that they tend to make Women's Sexual Health Issues extremely simpler than they really are. For example, many websites promote or over emphasize the benefits of a single health product rather than providing critical; background information on how the product may fit into your lifestyle. The promise to cure a female sexual dysfunction such as vaginal dryness withthe application of a specially formulated cream is often an oversimplification. It is seductive to get that quick fix, but treating a symptom often just shifts problems to other parts of the body. This is not say that you should not seek products that will relieve symptoms or provide a short term benefit - the caveat is that one-step interventions are not enough to achieve optimal sexual health and overall wellness. |
