100 tips on women’s health

These 100 pieces of common sense about women's health were compiled by me and three colleagues from the Department of Gynecology, Breastology, and Nutrition, based on tens of thousands of clinical cases we have received in the past 10 years. There is no IQ tax or mandatory standards. Controversial content will be clearly marked with the views of different schools. You can adjust it according to your own body feelings without using a rigid template. Put the 10 most important items at the front first, and sort the rest according to the scenarios that people often ask. Just pick out what you need.

10 core common sense things you should remember first

1. In the absence of gynecological inflammation, it is enough to rinse the vulva with warm water on a daily basis. Whether it is antibacterial lotion or an Internet celebrity private part lotion, do not use it casually. I just treated a sophomore girl last week. She washed her vulva with lotion every day for 3 months. The flora was imbalanced to the point that she could not sit still due to itching.

2. Whether you can eat ice during pregnancy depends entirely on your own body reaction. Western medicine does not say that you should avoid ice during menstruation. Traditional Chinese medicine will recommend that girls with cold body and severe dysmenorrhea should eat less. As long as you don’t have abdominal pain or backache after eating it, you can eat it if you want without feeling guilty.

3. After having sex, TCT+HPV combined screening once every 3-5 years is enough. There is no need to check every year. However, if you really need to do a regular gynecological check-up every year, it is 100 times more effective than ovarian maintenance and private care that you spend tens of thousands of dollars on.

4. Cervical erosion is not a disease, it is a normal physiological phenomenon called "cervical columnar epithelial ectopia". If any private hospital uses this as an excuse to ask you to have surgery, just turn around and leave without talking nonsense.

5. Girls aged 21-45, as long as they have no contraindications to vaccination, give priority to getting the HPV vaccine. The more expensive the two-price, four-price, and nine-price vaccines, the better. Whichever one can be booked first, it is much more cost-effective to get the vaccine early than to wait for the high-priced vaccine.

6. Most breast nodules are benign. Those classified as BI-RADS Category 3 or below can be reexamined once every six months. There is no need to take painkillers or feel anxious every day. A bad mood will make the nodules grow bigger.

7. It is a rumor that emergency contraceptive pills cannot be taken more than three times a year, but its side effects are indeed greater than short-acting contraceptive pills. If you can prevent pregnancy in advance, don't use it. But if you really don't have good protection, you should take it anyway. It is much less harmful than abortion.

8. Pregnancy is not a disease. You don’t need to take a lot of supplements during pregnancy. The optimal weight gain during pregnancy is 12-14kg. If you take too much supplements, the fetus will be too big to be born, and you will easily get gestational diabetes yourself.

9. Don’t wear corsets or crotch-cinching pants that are so tight that you can’t breathe. The girl I treated last month wore a corset for half a month to take wedding photos. Not only did her ribs get bruised, but her pelvic cavity was compressed and became congested. My aunt postponed it for 10 days. It was really not worth the loss.

10. Don’t hold back your emotions. Sulking and long-term anxiety are more harmful to the breast and thyroid gland than staying up late or drinking alcohol. If you feel really uncomfortable, cry out or find a friend to scold you. Don’t bear it.

The remaining 90 practical reminders

(There is no strict logical order, just write down what you find useful)

11. Underwear should be changed every day. After washing, it is best to scald it in boiling water for 5 minutes or expose it to the sun. Do not pile it in the bathroom to dry in the shade, as it can easily breed mold.

12. You can throw away underwear after wearing it for 3 months. You don’t have to wait until there are holes before changing it. If there are yellow stains on them that cannot be washed away, just throw them away.

13. Don’t use the hotel’s public bath towels to wipe your private parts. Try to bring your own disposable ones. If the disinfection is not done properly, you may easily get infected.

14. After using the toilet, wipe from front to back, not the other way around, otherwise it is easy to bring bacteria from the anus to the vaginal opening and urethral opening, causing infection.

15. Don’t spray perfume or powder on your private parts casually. The skin in your private parts is much tenderer than the skin on your face and is prone to allergies.

16. Urinary tract infections are very common in girls. If you have frequent urination, urgency or pain, check your urinary routine first. Don’t take anti-inflammatory drugs blindly. Drinking more warm water and urinating can relieve the problem a lot.

17. If you sit for a long time, get up and stand for 2 minutes every hour. Otherwise, the private parts will be stuffy and airtight, and it is easy to get vaginitis.

18. Don’t shave off all your pubic hair. It can act as a friction buffer and block bacteria. If you feel uncomfortable, you can trim it appropriately instead of shaving it all.

19. If irregular bleeding occurs after menopause, don’t take it seriously. Go to the hospital for investigation as soon as possible. This is an early signal of many gynecological malignant tumors.

20. If fungal vaginitis is detected, it is best to ask your partner to have it checked as well, otherwise it is easy for cross-infection to reoccur.

After talking about daily care, let’s talk about things related to my aunt who comes to report every month:

21. The normal aunt cycle is 21-35 days. It is normal if it is earlier or delayed within 7 days. There is no need to worry about being stuck on the 30-day standard.

22. It is normal for an aunt to have a bleeding volume of 20-60ml at one time, which is roughly the amount of 3-10 sanitary napkins used during the entire menstrual period. Less than 20ml means oligomenorrhea, and more than 80ml means excessive menstruation, so you should check it out.

23. It is normal for my aunt to have a small amount of blood clots. They are the shed endometrium and are not detoxification caused by uterine cold. There is no need to worry.

24. During the aunt period, you can wash your hair and take a bath with warm water. Just blow dry your hair in time after washing. Do not use cold water.

25. You can exercise during pregnancy. As long as you are not strenuously running, jumping or carrying weights, you can take a walk or do gentle yoga. It can relieve menstrual cramps.

26. If you have severe menstrual cramps, you can take ibuprofen. There is no need to carry it hard, it will not become addictive, and it will not affect future pregnancy. Taking it 1-2 hours in advance has the best pain relief effect.

27. If the dysmenorrhea suddenly becomes much more severe than before, or if the menstrual period lasts for more than 10 days and is still dirty, check to see if you have endometriosis or adenomyosis.

28. If you are 15 years old and have not yet had menarche, you should go to the hospital for examination to rule out abnormal development of the reproductive system.

29. It is normal to have irregular cycles in the first two years of pregnancy. The ovarian function is not fully developed yet, so there is no need to take medicine blindly as soon as it is delayed.

30. There is no need to stay in bed during the aunt period. You can have normal work and life, as long as you don’t overwork yourself.

31. The Internet-famous uterus-warming patch on the market is comfortable to wear, but it cannot cure uterine cold or irregular menstruation. Don’t expect it to cure diseases.

32. If you have low back pain during pregnancy, don’t beat it with your hands. Doing so will make the pelvic congestion more serious and make it more painful. Just use a hot water bottle and apply it.

33. Short-acting contraceptive pills can regulate menstruation and treat dysmenorrhea. As long as there are no contraindications, just follow the doctor's advice. They will not gain weight or affect future pregnancies.

34. Stress, staying up late, and excessive weight loss will all cause your aunt to delay. Don't panic once in a while, just adjust your work and rest and you can come back. If it is irregular for 3 consecutive months, check again.

35. It is best not to drink alcohol during the uterine period. Alcohol will dilate blood vessels, which may increase menstrual flow and prolong menstruation.

Many girls are worried about breast problems. You can remember these points:

36. Don’t rub your breasts hard every day. The so-called breast massage that removes nodules is a lie. If you don’t massage it properly, it will break the nodules and make the hyperplasia more serious.

37. Just wear underwear that fits well. You don’t need to buy the kind of underwire that gathers together, as the tightness will affect the blood circulation of the breast. You don’t even need to wear it at home. Comfort is the most important.

38. The soy isoflavones in soy milk are phytoestrogens, and their activity is only 1/1000 of human estrogen. Drinking one or two cups daily will not make the nodules larger at all. Currently, a small number of Chinese medicine practitioners in the academic community believe that people with high estrogen levels can drink less. If you don’t feel uncomfortable after drinking it, just drink it normally.

39. Don’t use breast enhancement products indiscriminately. Many of them secretly add estrogen. Using them will not only cause endocrine disorders, but also induce breast lesions in severe cases.

40. Breast ultrasound should be done once a year before the age of 30. After the age of 30, mammography can be added. Those with family history can be screened in advance.

41. Breast swelling and pain before menstruation is normal and is caused by hormone fluctuations. It will go away when your aunt is gone, so don’t worry about it.

42. It is normal for the nipple to occasionally have a small amount of transparent or milky white discharge. If bloody or brown discharge occurs, it should be checked in time.

43. There is no need to drink milk-feeding medicine after weaning, and there is no need to hold it in. Slowly reducing the number of breast feedings will heal naturally. Holding in the milk will make you more likely to get mastitis.

44. Boys can also get breast cancer. If there is a family history of male breast cancer in the family, the frequency of screening for girls should also be increased appropriately.

45. Eating collagen will not enlarge the breasts, nor will it make the skin better. It will be broken down into amino acids in the stomach and is of no use. It is better to eat two more eggs.

46. ​​Staying up late for a long time, being stressed, and being sulky are the most common causes of breast nodules, and they have a greater impact than anything you eat.

47. Breast size mainly depends on genetics and fat. Massage and eating papaya are useless. Don’t pay IQ tax blindly.

48. If you have blocked milk during lactation, don’t let your husband suck it hard, and don’t find a random breast massager. Go to the obstetrics or breast department of a regular hospital for treatment, otherwise it will easily lead to mastitis.

49. You don’t need to wash your underwear with disinfectant every day. Just wash it with ordinary underwear soap. The residual disinfectant will irritate the skin.

50. If you feel a hard lump in the breast with unclear boundaries and cannot be pushed, don't delay and go to the hospital for examination immediately.

Next are the questions that people often ask about pregnancy preparation, pregnancy, and postpartum:

51. Start taking folic acid 3 months before preparing for pregnancy, and the man can also take it together, which can reduce the probability of fetal neural tube defects.

52. You can eat hot pot, spicy strips, and drink coffee during pregnancy, as long as they are in moderation. If the amount of coffee does not exceed 2 cups a day (caffeine content does not exceed 200mg), it will be fine. If you don’t use it, you should avoid eating it. It will make you feel bad.

53. You can wear makeup and use skin care products during pregnancy. Just choose regular brands. There is no need to buy products specially designed for pregnant women. Many products specially designed for pregnant women are IQ tax.

54. Not everyone is suitable for vaginal birth, nor is a caesarean section worse than a vaginal birth. Listen to the doctor’s advice and don’t insist on vaginal or caesarean section.

55. You must go for a follow-up examination 42 days after delivery. Regardless of whether you feel uncomfortable or not, you should do the repair of your pelvic floor muscles, otherwise you will be prone to leaking urine when you get older.

56. There is no "confinement disease". After delivery, you can wash your hair and bathe, brush your teeth, and use the air conditioner. As long as you don't catch a cold, don't cover your confinement. Every year, mothers who cover their confinement suffer from heat stroke and are sent to the emergency department.

57. Postpartum hair loss is normal and is caused by the decline of hormones. It will usually grow back on its own in half a year to a year. There is no need to buy anti-hair loss products blindly.

58. There is no need to cover the wound caused by side incision every day. It will heal faster if left to dry. Just rinse it with warm water every day and keep it clean.

59. Milk powder is no worse than breast milk. If you don’t have enough milk or don’t want to breastfeed, just feed milk powder directly. There is no need to feel guilty. A happy mother is more important than anything else.

60. Don’t take a lot of supplements immediately after giving birth. Eat a light diet in the week before. Otherwise, it is easy to have breast congestion and gain weight.

61. It is best to check your thyroid function before preparing for pregnancy. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism will affect pregnancy and fetal development.

62. The typical symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are amenorrhea, abdominal pain, and irregular bleeding. If you have sex without contraception, go to the hospital as soon as possible if these symptoms occur. Otherwise, your life will be in danger.

63. Abortion is very harmful to the body. Don’t use it as a method of contraception. If you really don’t want children, take contraceptive measures in advance.

64. If the first child had a caesarean section, the second child can also go smoothly as long as it meets the indications. It is not necessary to have a caesarean section.

65. If morning sickness is severe, don’t hold on. Go to the hospital to check for urinary ketones. Infusions should be given, otherwise electrolyte imbalance will occur, which is not good for both mother and child.

Let’s talk about the gynecological examinations that everyone is afraid of. In fact, they are really not that scary:

66. Girls who are not sexually active can undergo abdominal B-ultrasound and anal examination for gynecological examination. There is no need for vaginal ultrasonography, and the hymen will not be damaged. Just tell the doctor in advance.

67. It is best not to have sex, do not insert medicine, and do not rinse the vagina 3 days before a gynecological examination, otherwise it will affect the examination results.

68. You don’t need to hold in your urine for vaginal ultrasound. You can see more clearly than abdominal B-ultrasound. Girls who are sexually active prefer vaginal ultrasound. There is nothing to be embarrassed about.

69. Uterine fibroids are very common benign tumors. If they are less than 5cm, have no symptoms, and do not affect pregnancy, they can be reviewed once every six months without surgery.

70. Ovarian cysts are also physiological. Go for a re-examination when your period is just clear. Many of them will disappear on their own, so you don’t have to be scared to have surgery as soon as they are detected.

71. Most HPV infections are transient, and 90% of people will be cleared by their own immunity within 1-2 years. There is no specific medicine, so don’t blindly buy those health care products that claim to be able to turn negative, as they are useless.

72. It is normal to have vaginitis, just like a cold. It is not a shameful disease. It will be cured quickly with regular treatment. Don’t buy pills blindly, and don’t feel psychological burden because of this.

73. You may get vaginitis even if you don’t have sex. For example, low immunity, wearing tight pants that are stuffy, and using unclean sanitary products may all cause it. Don’t think about it.

74. After menopause, estrogen decreases. If vaginal dryness and recurrent inflammation occur, you can use topical estrogen ointment under the guidance of a doctor. The side effects are minimal and there are no contraindications.

75. It is found that the leucorrhea has a cleanliness level of 3 degrees. If there are no symptoms of itching or odor, no treatment is needed. Just pay attention to hygiene.

Let’s talk about daily eating and moving things, which are simple and easy to do:

76. There is no need to skip staple foods in order to lose weight. Not eating staple foods for a long time will lead to delayed or even amenorrhea, which is not worth the loss. It is good to eat multi-grain rice and oats in moderation.

77. Drinking enough 1500-2000ml of warm water every day is more effective than drinking any amount of beauty tea. Don’t drink milk tea and cola every day. Too much sugar intake will not only make you gain weight, but also accelerate skin aging.

78. Don’t rely on diet pills or enzymes to lose weight. Most of them contain laxatives. Taking them will cause dehydration and disrupt the intestinal flora. If you stop taking the pills, you will regain weight.

79. Do aerobic exercise three times a week for 30 minutes each time, such as jogging, skipping, or swimming. It can not only control weight, but also improve immunity and is good for endocrine.

80. Don’t pursue excessive thinness. It is normal for the body fat rate to be 18-24%. A body fat rate that is too low will cause your aunt to run away and your immunity to decrease.

81. Calcium supplementation should be taken as early as possible. Bone density begins to decline after the age of 30. Drinking a glass of milk every day, eating some soy products, and getting more sun exposure is more effective than taking calcium tablets when you are old.

82. Don’t believe in the “detoxification and beauty” claims. The human body’s liver and kidneys can detoxify. You don’t need to take any detoxification products, but they will increase the burden on the liver and kidneys.

83. If you eat takeout for a long time, try to choose lighter food and don’t eat food heavy in oil and salt. Otherwise, you will easily get hyperlipidemia and high blood pressure. Nowadays, many girls in their 20s have hyperlipidemia.

84. Drinking alcohol, no matter how much you drink, is not good for your health. Whether it is red wine or white wine, don’t drink it if you can help it.

85. Don’t take random health supplements. Cranberry capsules, evening primrose oil, and grape seeds are mostly useless. A balanced diet is better than anything else. If you really want to take supplements, ask your doctor before taking them.

Many people ignore the impact of emotions on health. These points are really important:

86. If you have long-term insomnia, don’t hold on to it, and don’t take melatonin blindly. Go to a neurologist or sleep department for a checkup. Long-term insomnia is bad for endocrine, immunity, breast and thyroid glands.

87. Hot flashes, night sweats, and bad temper are normal during menopause. If the symptoms are severe, hormone replacement therapy can be done under the guidance of a doctor, which can relieve the discomfort to a great extent without having to endure any hardship.

88. Don’t worry too much about appearance or age. 30, 40, and 50 years old all have their own beauty. When you feel relaxed, your overall condition will be much better.

89. If you can't be happy for half a month and have no interest in anything, don't hold on and go to a psychiatrist. Depression is not a pretense, it's a disease, and it needs to be treated.

90. Don’t put all your energy on your family and children. Leave some time for yourself and do something you like. Your mood is as effective as any skin care product.

Finally, I’ll add some things that people rarely have the nerve to ask, as well as some scattered little common sense:

91. Bleeding may not occur when you have sex for the first time. Many girls’ hymens have good elasticity and large holes, or have been torn during strenuous exercise during childhood. It is normal for no bleeding. Don’t be kidnapped by old ideas.

92. Both parties should clean their vulva before and after sex, which can greatly reduce the occurrence of inflammation.

93. Do not use safe period contraceptive methods or in vitro ejaculation contraceptive methods. The failure rate is as high as over 20% and is unreliable. Condoms, short-acting contraceptive pills, and IUDs are all more reliable options.

94. Don’t deliberately do private plastic surgery to cater to others. Unless you have a need for it and it affects your normal life, there is really no need for it.

95. Even if you have received the HPV vaccine, you should also undergo regular cervical cancer screening. The vaccine cannot cover all high-risk HPV types.

96. Don’t wear clothes that reveal your ankles or waist just to look good in winter. As you get older, your joints will really hurt. I wear fleece pants in winter. Keeping warm is more important than looking good.

97. Don’t lower your head and play with your mobile phone every day. After the physiological curvature of the cervical spine becomes straight, dizziness and hand numbness are common. Look up and move your neck every half an hour.

98. Do a thyroid ultrasound once a year. The incidence of thyroid nodules in girls is particularly high now. Most of them are benign. Regular review is enough.

99. If you have any doubts about your health, go to a regular hospital for check-up first, instead of Baidu. The results from Baidu are either cancer or terminal illness, which will only scare yourself.

100. There is no absolute health standard. What matters is that you feel comfortable and happy. There is no need to live in fear for a few common sense of health, which would go against the original intention of health.

If you have any questions that are not covered, feel free to ask in the comment area and I will reply as soon as I see it.~