What to know
- Track changes in your menstrual cycle; don’t ignore pain, heavy bleeding, or irregularities.
- Discuss sexual and reproductive concerns openly with your healthcare provider.
- Stay up to date on preventive screenings, including gynecologic and breast cancer checks.
- Remember, persistent symptoms are never “normal”; advocate for your health and don’t hesitate to seek care.
September marks not only back-to-school season but also PMOS Awareness Month, Interstitial Cystitis Awareness Month, Sexual Health Awareness Month. That’s why this fertility specialist urges women to go beyond shopping for notebooks and consider a women’s health checklist as part of their fall routine.
Reproductive Endocrinologist and Fertility Specialist Dr. Marjorie Dixon tells Now Toronto that women should have their own “back-to-school health reset,” saying it’s an opportunity to “pause and take inventory of their health.”
Women’s health checklist
Dixon says to start with your menstrual cycle.
- Is it regular for you?
- Has something changed?
- Are you experiencing significant pain or unusually heavy bleeding?
- Are there symptoms you have repeatedly intended to discuss but haven’t?
You should also review how you feel overall.
- Review your medications.
- Review your sleep.
- How’s your stress?
- How’s your emotional well-being?
She also recommends speaking about sexual and reproductive health.
“Women should feel comfortable discussing libido, pain with intercourse, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, fertility goals and reproductive changes occurring at different stages of life. These are not peripheral concerns. They are legitimate components of comprehensive healthcare,” Dixon told Now Toronto.
She also emphasizes preventive cancer screening (usually beginning at the age of 25), breast cancer screening (usually starting at age 40) and colorectal cancer screening (usually around age 45).
‘Women should not be expected to normalize suffering’: Dixon stresses the importance of a woman’s health check
But Dixon is not oblivious to the fact that women’s pain is often underestimated or dismissed.
“For generations, women have been taught that significant menstrual pain is simply part of being female. It is not something we should automatically normalize,” she said.
“Menstrual pain that repeatedly interferes with school, work, relationships, physical activity or everyday life deserves assessment. The same applies to very heavy menstrual bleeding, markedly irregular cycles or other reproductive symptoms that adversely affect quality of life,” Dixon added.
She explained that significant or worsening menstrual pain can sometimes reflect an underlying condition, too, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids or other pelvic pathology.
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Some may be identifiable and treatable, which is why completing a women’s health checklist and speaking with your healthcare provider may help you in the long term.
“Women should not be expected to normalize suffering simply because the symptoms originate from their reproductive system,” Dixon said.
She stressed that a doctor’s visit should not be limited to when a woman wants contraception or to get pregnant, but should include meaningful conversations around menstrual health, hormones, fertility, sexual health, contraception, pelvic pain, metabolic health, perimenopause and menopause.
Some changes in feminine health treatment
In May, the feminine health condition Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) got renamed to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) to better reflect the condition, and calls attention to the treatable hormone and metabolic changes.
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Still, with PMOS awareness month taking place this September, Dixon raises awareness of the condition, especially as diagnosis falls short — so keep track of your checklist.
“PMOS can affect menstrual cycles, fertility, skin, hair, metabolic health and overall wellbeing. Despite its prevalence, estimates suggest that as many as 70 per cent of affected women worldwide may remain undiagnosed. That is why awareness matters,” she said.
It’s also important to debunk myths. Women with PMOS aren’t on a “biological clock,” so if PMOS is a diagnosis that concerns you, fear of not being able to conceive should not prevent you from booking the appointment.
“PMOS can cause irregular or absent ovulation, which may make spontaneous conception more challenging for some women. However, we have multiple highly effective strategies to support ovulation and fertility when treatment is required,” Dixon said.
When to see a doctor
Dixon emphasizes that new or persistent symptoms that interfere with quality of life are worth making an appointment.
“Changes in menstrual regularity; very heavy or painful periods; consistently irregular cycles; unexplained changes in hair growth or hair loss; difficult-to-manage acne; changes in libido; pain with intercourse; or difficulty becoming pregnant are all appropriate reasons to speak with a healthcare provider,” she said.
“Women should not feel that they need to wait until a symptom becomes “bad enough” before seeking care. If something is persistent, new, or meaningfully affecting your life, it deserves a conversation,” Dixon added.
