The prevalence of women's health issues in American culture is inspired by second-wave feminism in the United States.
[1] As a result of this movement, women of the United States began to question the largely male-dominated health care system and demanded a right to information on issues regarding their physiology and anatomy.
[5] The United States government recognizes that gender is a factor which plays a significant role in sexual health.
[7] This is partly due to lack of insurance before pregnancy and higher rates of chronic conditions, such as obesity and diabetes.
[8] Furthermore, there are disparities in the use and success of ART among racial and socio-economic groups given the high costs, limited access, and varied utilization.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has significant pull over the decision-making process women must make when choosing different types of contraception.
[citation needed] The two types of IUDs that exist for current contraceptive use are Copper T 380A and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system or Mirena.
These clinicians are trained experts in the diagnosis and treatment of mood and anxiety symptoms that occur throughout these cycles in female reproduction.
[20] This field is growing as the current gap in mental health specifically focused on women and their reproductive cycles is realised and people see how impactful studying these issues can be.
[medical citation needed] The side effects of birth control pills include acne, bleeding or spotting between periods, bloating, high blood pressure, depression, fatigue, dizziness, fluid retention, headache, increased appetite, insomnia, melasma, mood swings, nausea, breast pain and tenderness, vomiting, and weight gain.
[27] Studies have found that hormonal contraceptive users had higher rates of depression, anxiety, fatigue, neurotic symptoms, sexual disturbances, compulsion, anger, and negative menstrual effects.
[28] For women with preexisting mental health conditions, it is advisable to talk to a psychiatrist before taking BC pills.
The symptoms are based on post traumatic stress disorder; however, this diagnosis is not recognised by the American Psychological Association and is not included in the DSM.
Many of these studies are very limited, and do not account for the impact of confounding variables, one of the biggest being pre-existing mental health issues prior to getting an abortion.
Interviews were conducted over a 5 year period, and compared women who did receive a wanted abortion to those turned away because they passed the facilities gestational age limit.
[32] This study also showed the clear negative impacts of being denied a wanted abortion on women’s general health and trajectory of life.
[32] The postpartum period has one of the highest rates of mental health issues associated with it, with 85% of women experiencing a mood disturbance.
[34] The postpartum blues are considered to be a relatively common and normal side effect of giving birth, especially in western countries where there is a lack of general community and familial support.
[34] The stress of delivery combined with changes in hormone levels is thought to contribute to the postpartum blues many people face after childbirth.
[34] PDD symptoms include feeling of guilt and incompetence, low mood, fatigue, poor concentration, anxiety and suicidal ideation.
[34] The development of PP is very abrupt and is usually observed within at least the first two weeks after childbirth, and symptoms can start as early as 24–48 hours after giving birth.
[33] Severe mood swings, as seen in bipolar disorder, are usually observed, as well as erratic behavior, confusion and delusional beliefs about the newborn.
[34] It is also thought that 5.6% of women show symptoms of postpartum PTSD, which can be characterized by flashbacks to childbirth, nightmares and tension and can occur when pregnant again.
[34] Maternity neurosis is another potential issue associated with the postpartum period, in which mothers are excessively anxious and worried about the health and safety of their child.
ART describes any method in which both eggs and embryos are manipulated outside the woman’s body, of which in vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most common type.
[50] Several effects of infertility, pregnancy loss, birth trauma, and delivery of offspring lead to a wide range of major health issues in women.
[54] A qualitative study in Iran assessed the emotional-psychological consequences of infertility and concluded that it created psychological distress and caused depression in a subset of the women.
[59] The top 5 causes of pregnancy death include cardiovascular conditions (16.2%), infection or sepsis (13.9%),cardiomyopathy (12.5%),hemorrhage (11.0%), thrombotic pulmonary or other embolism (9.4%).
[61] The stigma surrounding STDs in the U.S. prevents women from discussing the topic even among healthcare provides, close friends, partners, and family.
[60] Screening is a form of testing healthy versus symptomatic people against traditional symptoms of STDs to determine STD prevalence.