6 Ways to Prevent Women's Health Conditions

"There is no cancer in my family, so I have no risk factors!", "I have no complaints, so I don't need screening!", "Mammography is harmful!", "Medicinal plants are more beneficial than medical treatment!"... Dr. Faruk Abike, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology Specialist at Acıbadem Taksim Hospital, notes that such misconceptions prevalent in our society can delay early diagnosis and treatment of potential diseases, leading to life-threatening risks. He states: "Certain precautions should never be neglected in women's health, but misconceptions in society, the failure to have regular check-ups and tests, and unhealthy lifestyle habits can lead to the emergence of dangerous diseases and the loss of early diagnosis and treatment opportunities."

Emphasizing that there are both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors in health, Dr. Abike states: "While we cannot change our genetic makeup, we can take effective preventive measures against cancer or any disease by making some simple changes in our lifestyle. Research shows that, for example, 95% of breast cancer cases—the most common cancer in women—have no family history, with genetic factors playing a role in only 5%. This means we must maintain a healthy lifestyle, obtain information from reliable sources, and not deviate from scientific approaches in treatment." Dr. Faruk Abike, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology Specialist, explained 6 critical precautions in women's health and offered important warnings and recommendations.

• Pay attention to these recommendations against bone loss!

The decrease in estrogen hormone with menopause causes hot flashes and sweating complaints in 80% of women, while also accelerating bone loss, known as "osteoporosis." Dr. Faruk Abike emphasizes that women should take precautions against bone loss before entering menopause. He states that the most important of these measures include regular exercise, walking briskly for at least 30 minutes daily, healthy eating, and avoiding alcohol and smoking, noting that research has shown that smoking accelerates bone loss even further.

• Lose excess weight and reach your ideal weight in a healthy way!

Excess weight and obesity, which have become increasingly common in our country in recent years, can pose a life-threatening risk. For example, excessive estrogen in the fatty tissue of obese patients causes endometrial thickening, polyps, fibroids, and significantly increases the risk of uterine cancer in advanced stages. Dr. Faruk Abike notes that being excessively thin can also reduce estrogen levels and lead to bone fractures, and therefore maintaining ideal weight is very important both before and during menopause. He emphasizes that resorting to crash diets, using weight-loss injections, and using herbal products to lose excess weight can cause serious harm to health rather than benefit, and can even pose a life-threatening risk. Dr. Abike states that weight loss must always be done in healthy ways, and with professional support if necessary.

• If there are risk factors in your family, be extra careful!

Dr. Faruk Abike, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology Specialist, notes that risk factors in the family are extremely important and speaks as follows: "For example, if a person has a history of cancer in close relatives such as mother, aunt, or grandmother, this directly increases the risk, so screening tests must be performed and follow-up should begin much earlier. The same risk applies not only to cancer but also to fibroids and endometriosis. For example, a daughter whose mother has endometriosis has a 7-10 times higher risk of developing endometriosis compared to others. While 95% of the most common breast cancer cases in women have no family history, there is a 5% group in which, when we perform genetic tests, if there is a BRCA-1-2 mutation for example, the risk of breast cancer increases by 80%. This is a very large percentage. Since it is very easy to prevent risks before they materialize nowadays, we must definitely undergo the necessary tests and not neglect regular examinations."

• Eat healthily and avoid taking random vitamin supplements!

Especially during menopause, with the loss of estrogen's protective effect, the likelihood of developing bone loss, heart and vascular diseases, high cholesterol and other conditions increases, and blood fat levels become abnormal. For this reason, it is necessary to pay attention to healthy nutrition, consume vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, almonds, walnuts, yogurt, kefir, and fish, and avoid excessive caffeine and carbonated drinks. Dr. Faruk Abike, who notes that multivitamins are currently used randomly without consulting a doctor to boost energy, but more vitamins do not mean better health—in fact, excessive vitamins can cause serious long-term harm to health rather than benefit—emphasizes that these vitamins should be avoided unless a physician deems them necessary.

• Bleeding during menopause must not be overlooked!

Dr. Abike notes that while irregular bleeding can occur during the menopausal transition, many women do not seek medical attention. He states: "However, even a single drop of bleeding during menopause is not a normal occurrence. Therefore, it must always be taken seriously and a physician must be consulted. While there may not always be a serious disease underlying these bleeds, they must be checked. Otherwise, when irregular bleeds seen during menopause are dismissed as 'due to menopause' and considered normal, very important warning signs of dangerous diseases can be overlooked, and for example, a cancer that could have been detected in its early stage may present itself in an advanced stage."

• Be sure to have your routine check-ups done!

Dr. Faruk Abike notes that thanks to rapid advances in technology and medicine in recent years, screening methods have increased the chances of early diagnosis and treatment. He emphasizes that every woman must undergo a gynecological examination at least once a year. Stressing that early detection saves lives and therefore annual gynecological examinations should not be neglected, and especially women with a family history of cancer should have more frequent check-ups, Dr. Abike states: "Cancers are often in advanced stages when they present with symptoms. Therefore, even if there are no complaints, annual pap smears (cervical cancer screening test), gynecological examination, and ultrasound are extremely important. Especially starting from age 40 (starting earlier for those with a family history of cancer), annual mammography screening is also extremely important for early detection of breast cancer."