PETALING JAYA, August 26 – Women spend 25 per cent more of their lives in debilitating health than men, according to a report from the World Economic Forum and McKinsey Health Institute.
The women’s health gap includes a persistent data gap, with women being underdiagnosed for certain conditions compared to men.
To put a spotlight on women’s health, the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia and Bayer Co. (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd jointly organised a forum on August 21 that covered a range of topics, from reproductive health and endometriosis to contraception and unplanned pregnancies, to encourage women not to suffer in silence.
Shame and taboo have kept many issues affecting women’s bodies from getting the awareness and attention they deserve.
As a result, women can be uncomfortable talking about their health issues and concerns. But these issues, if left neglected or ignored, can be debilitating and have a profound impact on women’s quality of life.
“Women face a variety of health issues and conditions that are unique to them,” said Dr Hoo Mei Lin, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with Sunway Medical Centre, during the forum, which was themed For Her: Conversations of Care.
“They are the most susceptible to sexual and reproductive problems, therefore it is important for women to schedule annual visits to the gynaecologist to safeguard their reproductive health through early detection and preventive health screening. These examinations are vital to monitor any possible symptoms of underlying issues.”
The ‘Missed Disease’ That Affects One in Ten Women Of Reproductive Age
For conditions like endometriosis, which studies have shown can take up to 11 years to diagnose, it is imperative to seek medical attention as early as possible.
Endometriosis is often referred to as the ‘missed disease’ even though it affects one in 10 women of reproductive age.
“A lack of awareness of endometriosis and social taboos surrounding the disease are the common factors associated with the delay in seeking treatment. Despite its prevalence, many people believe that endometriosis is an uncommon condition,” said Surita Mogan, president of the Endometriosis Association of Malaysia (MyEndosis).
“Many women live in silence and pain because they don’t know what is normal and what isn’t when it comes to menstrual health. Endometriosis is not a disease that is talked about. By starting a conversation about endometriosis we can raise awareness, end the stigma and break down barriers around this disease.”
Endometriosis is a disease where the presence of tissue similar to the ones lining the uterus is also found outside of it, causing inflammation and scar tissue to form in the pelvic area.
Symptoms of the diseases include pelvic pain, painful sex, painful urination and bowel movements, infertility, fatigue, depression, anxiety, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, and severe bloating.
A Quarter Of Survey Respondents Do Not Use Contraception
The forum also addressed the topic of unplanned pregnancies, an issue that is among the top five concerns amongst women in Malaysia, according to a survey by Alpro Pharmacy.
However, a quarter of the 1,300 women respondents do not use any contraception and nearly 50 per cent rely on natural family planning or the pull-out method.
This is consistent with the findings of The Fifth Malaysian Population and Family Survey conducted by National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), which found that one in five married women do not use any family planning method despite not intending to become pregnant, contributing to 19.6 per cent of unmet need for contraception in the country.
Alpro Pharmacy and Bayer launched the Alpro Birth Control Teleconsult in 2023 to empower women in making educated decisions on family planning.
“With the changed roles of a modern woman, the Alpro Birth Control Teleconsult offers many benefits to women who need to juggle and manage their time for education, career as well as taking care of their family,” said Ng Yi Ling, pharmacist and Professional Care & Development Manager, Alpro Pharmacy.
“It connects healthcare professionals and patients remotely and conveniently, providing women with personalised family planning advice on choosing the right contraceptive methods as well as fast, efficient and affordable delivery of oral contraceptives to their doorstep.”
Dr Wan Hilya Munira Mustapha, head of Reproductive Health Unit, Human Reproduction Department, National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) maintained that the Fifth Malaysian Population and Family Survey also revealed that 89.3 per cent of women of reproductive age choose to make their own decisions about contraceptive use.
“This shows that Malaysian women can and are able to make the best decisions about their reproductive health,” she said.
A Call To Action For Women
The forum was held in conjunction with Wellbeing Fiesta @ Monash Week, an annual initiative by Monash University Malaysia to promote health and well-being to employees and students.
“At Monash, we embrace diversity, actively further inclusivity, and dismantle barriers to equity. We are very pleased to partner with Bayer in our shared aspiration to raise awareness and empower women to be proactive in protecting and improving their own health, said Prof Shaun Lee, head of School of Pharmacy, Monash University.
“It is important for female colleagues in our university to take charge of their health with regular checkups and screenings while also supporting one another on their health concerns at the workplace.”
#ConversationsOfCare is an initiative by Bayer under its Bayer For Her campaign, a call to action for women in Asia to share conversations about their own health issues and talk to a health care professional about them.
The social stigma women face at home and in the workplace often result in a lot of stress and shame. Bayer For Her marks an important step in Bayer’s contribution to improving the health of women using #ConversationsOfCare to empower women to speak up and get the support they need.
