These issues have long-lasting effects on well-being
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
A few local providers offered ideas of what’s on the forefront of women’s healthcare.
1. Healthcare Equity
Numerous studies indicate that women’s health concerns are considered less important to their healthcare providers than men’s concerns.
One example is a study published by the Journal of Women’s Health that said women presenting with chest pain are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with mental health issues instead of possible cardiac issues.
Women are also “substantially underrepresented” in medical research than men for issues that affect both genders, according to a study published by Harvard in 2022.
“I ask each and every woman to join me in advocating in more equitable healthcare and increase awareness, education and support for the fight of women in heart disease,” said physician Nelly Kazzaz, a board member representing the American Heart Association Western and Central New York Chapter.
2. Mental healthcare
According to the AJPM Focus — the journal of the American College of Preventive Medicine and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research —, a study of women in 2022 showed that “compared with reports before the pandemic, participants reported increased frustration or boredom (69.1%), loneliness (51.6%), anxiety (64.3%), depression (52.4%) and changed sleep patterns (68.3%).”
In addition to providing most of the home’s housekeeping duties and care giving to children and elders, women found themselves juggling working at home and while schools closed, providing more care giving and overseeing education at home. Although some of these issues have abated, others such as inflation persist.
“Since the pandemic, women have been under increased pressure at home and work,” Kazzaz said. “Instead of prioritizing mental healthcare, we reduced the priority of preventive healthcare. We are still seeing the consequences of it and we aren’t at the pre pandemic status of mental health.”
3. Dearth of healthcare providers
It is estimated that about 20% of the healthcare workforce left medicine during the pandemic. This affects women twofold: both in securing providers for their own healthcare needs and for those of their family, as women tend to act as the guardians of their family’s health.
“It’s very concerning and there’s no end in sight,” Kazzaz said. “Most physicians who left healthcare during the pandemic didn’t retire. The pandemic increased a load that led to early retirements and a lot of people leaving the healthcare professions. We still struggle fully staffing our office and the hospitals are
struggling as well.”
4. Ineffective weight loss
“We notice a lot of patients who want weight loss,” said Vanna Reisman, women’s health nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife at Women’s Health Horizons in Syracuse. “It’s about exercise and taking care of yourself with what you’re eating. A lot of obesity that we’ve seen in recent years was COVID-19 related. However, people are getting back on track.”
5. Screenings and preventive care
“We still haven’t seen patients come back since the pandemic until just recently,” Reisman said. “We’re also seeing an uptick in certain kinds of cancer like breast cancer and ovarian cancer, which have screening protocols. People put that on the back burner during the pandemic.
“I think women need to be very well-informed and educated and listen to their provider. There is so much information about how often to get your Pap smear and get testing for STIs. I just think that a lot of times, they get caught up in everything that’s going on with their friends. I think that’s an important source, but I’m not the same as a healthcare provider.”
Ask your healthcare provider what’s right for you.
6. Sexually transmitted infections
“We did see an upswing in STIs during the pandemic because with the available time for people to engage in risky behavior,” Reisman said. “We’re seeing people engaging in riskier sexual behavior that may have to do with dating sites. Unfortunately, we get a lot of surprises.”
7. Fertility
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that from 2014 to 2020, the fertility rate has consistently declined by 2% annually.
“Part of that is polycystic ovary syndrome, which so many women are suffering from and people are gaining weight, which has affected fertility,” Reisman said.