Menstrual cycle data ‘underused’ and should be on health records, experts say | Women’s health
Experts, menstrual cycle data should be routinely documented by health professionals and researchers, because it can be used as an indicator for other health problems, he said.
This information, which includes cycle length, regularity, density and bleeding time, is not routinely collected in health systems or research, except in cases where reproductive problems are evaluated.
Lancet Obstetrics, according to experts in the field of gynecology and women’s health, this lack of documentation, the effect of menstrual cycles on health, as well as pain and heavy bleeding, such as the insufficient diagnosis and neglect of menstruation.
This may be indicators for cases such as diabetes, diabetes, thyroid disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome.
In the UK, the information about a patient’s menstrual cycle is not routinely collected by health professionals, unlike other measures such as BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol.
More than a quarter of the women in the UK, according to the biggest survey of the species published this year, experts say that “systemic, operational, structural and cultural issues” prevent women from accessing care.
Almost one -fifth (19%) of the women participating in the study suffered severe pain last year and 40% of the participants reported heavy menstrual bleeding.
Last year, a report made by the Parliamentary Committee of Women and Equality found that women and girls have suffered for years because their reproductive conditions were rejected due to “medical women’s income”.
Dr. Rane Thakar, President of Royal Obstetrics and Gynecologists College, said, “serious conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis may have a destructive effect on almost every aspect of a person’s life, including the physical and mental health of a person and to work and socialization abilities.
“Most of the time, systemic, operational, structural and cultural problems mean the risk of strengthening the health inequalities that women do not take care of and that our current system can see in these findings.”
The authors of the study: “The menstrual cycle is a less used but powerful tool for understanding gynecological and general health. It functions as a vital sign throughout life by providing important information that can be used for clinical treatment and symptom management and providing important information that can be used for screening and preventive care.
“Recognizing the menstrual cycle as a basic health indicator will strengthen health services and affect the research between disciplines. Importantly, this recognition will improve the health of women throughout their lives.”
Term monitoring devices have been requested in recent years, but there are concerns about personal data and information used by private companies. Public health organs such as NHS were asked to develop their own competitor applications to protect data.
NHS UK was approached for a comment.
