Our reproductive health is complex. There’s a lot that goes on that needs attention but most of the time, we only do that when an issue arises. Some of these problems might totally be unforeseen while others are not so much. However, because of the contradicting information we deal with at times, it might be difficult to decode the problem. 

For this reason, we are highly advised to always go for a check to make sure we keep up with our health. Without further ado, let’s look into the various reproductive health issues that women are at risk of.

One of the reproductive health issues that plague women is uterine fibroids. These are noncancerous tumours that can grow inside or outside the uterus.

It is a silent condition in that you might not really notice it especially if you can’t detect its symptoms like excessive bleeding during periods, lower back pain and pain during sex, all of which are treated as normal, which is why it is highly recommended that if you notice anything abnormal, reach out to your gynaecologist for advice. 

Uterine fibroids can grow over the years without notice but their effects can be devastating. Infertility and miscarriages.

You will suffer from PCOS if you have a high level of the male hormone androgen. This will lead to the formation of cysts in the ovaries. As a result, you might experience irregular periods and at times, grow hair. 

Lancet Kenya shows that it is the most common disorder in women in the country but there isn’t data on its prevalence. PCOS affects one in 10 women of childbearing age. The causes of this condition remain unknown but there are various ways of treating the condition. 

Having painful and debilitating pain during your menstrual cycle might be a sign of endometriosis. The pain is caused by the tissue growing outside the ovaries and not having an outlet when your menses come around. It is one of the leading causes of infertility. 

Globally, it is said that 176 million women suffer from this condition. It is not easy to diagnose endometriosis and women who suffer from this condition say that it’s taken a long to get a diagnosis. 

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the country. Nine in ten women die from this disease every day and a further 15 get a diagnosis. It is a slow killer in that it takes up to ten years to be discovered. Cervical cancer is highly treatable but a lot of women present their cases when too late, which only makes it difficult to eliminate. 

One of the things that the government has done is to introduce the HPV vaccine which is aimed at preventing the illness in the first place. Despite the myths surrounding the vaccine, it’s scientifically proven to be effective and girls are encouraged to get it. 

A lot of you might have thought reproduction only has to deal with the uterus. Well, breast cancer is one of the reproductive health problems we face. With this, unless you are very keen on the changes that are happening with your breasts, you might just miss out on the signs which are usually visible.

If you feel like hard tissue is forming around your breasts, normally detected by touching, seek medical guidance. If you notice some discolouration around your breasts, again, that is a cause for concern. If your nipples are cracking, do not ignore this. It is a tell-tale sign of breast cancer. Lumps growing under your armpits also indicate something. 

Take time to check on some of yourself and if you can, go for an annual test just to know what’s happening. 

These are not the only reproductive health issues we face. There are definitely others. The secret to dealing with these conditions is going for annual exams so that they can be diagnosed as early as possible.