Labor & Child Birth

Women Reproductive Health

Being a woman has health implications. Women's health needs can be classified into four broad categories (Fathalla, 1997). First, women have specific health needs related to sexual and reproductive function. Second, women have an elaborate reproductive system that is vulnerable to dysfunction or disease, even before it is put into operation or after it has been taken out of service. Third, women are prone to the same diseases of other bodily systems that can affect men. Disease patterns often differ from those of men due to genetic make-up, hormonal environment, or gendered lifestyle. Diseases of other body systems or their treatments may interact with conditions of the reproductive system or function. Fourth, because women are women, they are subject to social diseases that affect their physical, mental, or social health. Examples include female genital mutilation, sexual abuse and domestic violence.