The roles of female organs and hormones in the human body in maintaining good health

[MeMarmiteYouJam]

I am not medically trained, but over the years I've realised more and more how misunderstood, under-researched and just generally ignored the female human body is. In terms of the impact of medicines, the cycle of hormones (monthly, and over a lifetime), the difference in immune system responses (it turns out that women might be better protected from the Covid vaccine, for instance, due to a stronger immune response), the impact of thyroid conditions, etc.

There's also just the actual composition of the female body, in that the health of the woman's uterus impacts her entire pelvic health - the uterus holds the bladder and lower intestines in place. My own mother wasn't told about this when she was given a hysterectomy when she was 36, and has dealt with incontinence and constipation for years as a result.

I consider my periods to be a fairly good indicator of how well I am - they went wonky earlier this year as a direct result of massive stress, for example.

Female-centric medicine just doesn't really exist, does it? I find it really frustrating, because a little bit of knowledge and understanding would be a massive help to so many. I don't know much, but I'd like to understand more - what is the lifelong impact on my immune system from having children? How does my breast cancer risk reduce because I've breastfed? What kinds of health issues impact/change a woman's cycle? What is the range of normal for such things? Why do women suffer from endometriosis and why isn't there more options for helping them? etc.

Absolutely. I have a health condition which disproportionately affects women, and very little is known about it for that very reason. I wasn't diagnosed till my late 20s even though I'd had symptoms of it my whole life.

I meant to add that the condition is generally more difficult for women than men because of the role of female hormones, especially progesterone.

I am optimistic that research will start to concentrate on women instead of using men as the standard. There seems to be a realisation that (and yes it's always money) there will be specific needs for women and as 50%ish of the population it has been unwise to see our health needs as irrelevant. It might even be that the whole trans debate has shone a light on how different our bodies really are instead of just supposing we were lighter weight men.

Wonder if that's a throw back to the 'women made from the rib of adam' could well be, these things go deep

I had a hysterectomy a few years a due to fibroids. The surgeon only removed my uterus as due to my age, they don't remove ovaries unless they absolutely need to and he was didn't remove my cervix as it plays an important role in the internal structure.

Even when ovaries are retained they can go 'dormant' and will stop functioning normally sooner than normal causing early menopause.

This is what happened to me and doesn't just cause hot flushes and mood swings. It affects mental health, sleep patterns, skin condition and weight, memory and physical strength and stamina.

These are things we're just expected to live with. I think its still seen as a taboo subject.

It's an interesting area, and one that could do with more focus.
I work in healthcare and used to work as a screener for a potentially fatal condition that primarily affected men. It could affect women, but in such small numbers that the research just didn't support screening women. It's one reason I think it's dangerous to want to 'change' ones biological sex - it could rule someone out of lifesaving screening!

A gynaecologist suggested removing my uterus while they were doing a different operation because "uteruses only grow babies or cancer".

There is nothing wrong with my uterus.

I'd be interested to know whether urologists suggest removing redundant
testicles for similar reasons.

Yes, women aren't just smaller men! Our skeletal structure is different, our organs are in slightly different positions, hormones are different, etc etc. Medicine can't just be scaled down for dosage or something.

uteruses only grow babies or cancer

That's a repulsive attitude to have though not surprising. Pelvic health is inconsequential.

Lots of women have issues around their menstrual cycle that go undiagnosed, many doctors don't have much training in that area and the go to response seems to be "try going on the Pill". I've known of a few women who only made some progress after visiting Catholic doctors from the Pope John VI Institute, which has done a lot of specialised research on women's reproductive cycles. Most doctors seem to be largely unaware of any of that research.

Oh don't get me started on balancing thyroid stuff and hormones. It all went drastically wrong as soon as I wanted to go on the pill (that's when hypothyroidism was worsened and found) then years of trying to get the right balance, then it all went wrong again during pregnancy and now peri menopause.

Bugger all research. Each time I've had to find out the hard way that there could be an issue. I've just recently found out for eg that tsh rises mid cycle if on thyroxine. Not much but enough to skew some results.

And trying to make sense of how hormones go skew wiff in the run up to menopause, and associated symptoms, is impossible.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria

A gynaecologist suggested removing my uterus while they were doing a different operation because "uteruses only grow babies or cancer".

There is nothing wrong with my uterus.

I'd be interested to know whether urologists suggest removing redundant
testicles for similar reasons.

That is shocking. Never mind how that might affect the endocrine system, eh, let's just chop out a healthy part of your body.

This is something I am beginning to research more about. 'Invisible women' talks a little bit about this in drug design and medical trials. I came across Dr Stacey Sims listening to a podcast by the food medic and she speaks at great length at this from an athlete POV. It all revolves around women are not small men. We have our own hormone cycle that means our bodies don't behave the same as men in all respects. I have just started reading 'the xx brain' by dr Lisa Mosconi and she talks in depth about the roles female hormones can affect development of Alzheimer's but she sets the scene discussing how, again, women are not smaller versions of men.

The athlete perspective is interesting for me know as it helped me understand how my cycle affects my training and it can actually be beneficial. I always thought I would avoid hrt when older as I hate synthetic hormones but now I am not so sure and I am doing my reset.

This is a short version but can dig out the food medic podcast if helpful. m.youtube.com/watch?v=e5LYGzKUPlE

Invisible Women is very good on this topic. There really has been generation on generation of systematic bias towards men's healthcare needs in the developing world. Women need to speak out a lot more about this to drive change, but a lot of this intersects with capitalism - healthcare improvements are driven by pharma companies who tend to centre men's needs for profit reasons. If one-tenth of the energy and expertise that went into viagra had gone into women's health care... but dead women will never be as important as the mighty peen.

One of my friends has been doing research re hormones and military training (he's a Dr in the Airforce). There must be similar research in sport.

I have a condition that peaks in women aged 50-60 and can be fatal (affects men too but not in such high numbers). I asked my consultant about the effects of the menopause and he had no idea. It was left to me to read through medical journals to discover HRT reduces mortality for this condition and then I had to tell my GP I wanted HRT for a different reason, as preventing you dying apparently doesn't count. I think this is shocking, and I only was able to find out the information because I'm used to reading research papers anyway.

@TabbyStar

I have a condition that peaks in women aged 50-60 and can be fatal (affects men too but not in such high numbers). I asked my consultant about the effects of the menopause and he had no idea. It was left to me to read through medical journals to discover HRT reduces mortality for this condition and then I had to tell my GP I wanted HRT for a different reason, as preventing you dying apparently doesn't count. I think this is shocking, and I only was able to find out the information because I'm used to reading research papers anyway.

That's horrendous.

Schizophrenia age of onset in women tends to be in two peaks, one 3-5 years later than typical male onset and one age 40+, possibly relative to declining estrogen. I was surprised because as a mental health clinician I never knew this and training, early intervention and services all seem to focus on the mainly young male age of onset from late teens.

That's an interesting fact, Scrap. I wonder if that data has ever been compared to common age of hysterectomies? I skimmed a study earlier today that found a huge increase in dementia in women who underwent hysterectomies alongside bilateral oophorectomies before the age of 41 or so.

I was put on the pill in my early 20s to try to sort my crappy skin. It triggered migraines which have blighted my life ever since (am now 40). I'm disabled, in continual pain, unable to walk to the loo some days, was lucky to have a "normal" child as my medication causes birth defects but we didn't know until I was already pregnant (we were lucky, TBH) but can't risk it again so DD is an only child. Lost my job, due to sick leave. Losing my memory. Struggle to read, I'm gradually losing skills I previously had. Lots of consequences. Basically it's destroyed my life. But because I was the one-in-a-million that had an exceptionally bad reaction, nothing was done. I was told that I was lucky that at least it hadn't been a stroke. Most stroke victims are better after 18 years, if they survive.

Ironically, roaccutane, which is a fairly poisonous drug with generally pretty awful side effects, I managed just fine. Two full courses of it.

I only discovered yesterday that 1 in 5 UK women will have a hysterectomy at some point.
55,000 a year.

www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/health-matters/health-and-wellbeing/hysterectomy-your-questions-answered

I had no idea that hysterectomies could cause those side-effects - that is awful.

Yy to women just not being acknowledged in medical trials, training or priorities. Surely that's got to change over time?

Also Lemon, that sounds horrendous.

When I was reading about prolapse (prior to surgery) I found out a lot about fascia and ligaments that hold our pelvic organs in place.

They form part of our structure and removing the uterus interrupts this. It can lead to change of shape.

Loss of oestrogen at menopause also affects these structures.

Mine is looking the worse for wear since meno struck.

That's awful Lemon.

I've been reading stuff by Lara Briden who is Australian. Basically a nutritionist but has really researched period health. Some recent posts on her Instagram are interesting in that she talks about the importance of ovulation as being important for long term health eg osteoporosis (references a research dr) and how a period is a monthly health "report card," as well as a range of ways of addressing wonky challenging periods.

I wish mainstream science took this stuff as seriously as well as providing the information to women to seek help.

@MeMarmiteYouJam

uteruses only grow babies or cancer

That's a repulsive attitude to have though not surprising. Pelvic health is inconsequential.

This attitude has led to a lot of hurt and pain for people. Hopefully more and more physicians realise that you just can’t cut things out without considering the impact on the entire body (I hate using the word wholistic but that’s what is needed essentially)