ALL women need to be aware of female health issues and diseases that can sometimes mask more serious problems, according to professor Daw Khin Saw Hla, a consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist.

She says, for example, that while it’s not uncommon for women to experience problems with menstruation or vaginal discharge, it can also be a symptom of cervical cancer and women should consult their doctor.

“The white discharge and itchiness happens in many women, it is usually a fungal infection. This problem is directly related with personal hygiene,” she said.

It can be passed on by wearing other people’s clothes or caused by some antibiotics, Prof Daw Khin Saw Hla said.

Women over the age of 35 are most at risk of cervical cancer, which is one of the leading killers of women in developed countries but also prevalent in developing countries like Myanmar.

Cervical cancer kills more women annually than childbirth, and it is estimated that it could affect as many as 750,000 women by 2020 and as many as 1 million new cases by 2050. It is second only to breast cancer as the most common form of cancer among women, according to the Pan American Health Organis-ation. Currently, about 230,000 women die annually of cervical cancer and nearly 80 percent of these cases occur in “underdeveloped countries”, the organisation says.

Professor Daw Khin Saw Hla said painful menstruation is also a regular problem. But if a woman is a spinster or infertile and experiences this they should consult their doctor.

“If they feel a lot of pain during menstruation women should see a doctor because there may be blood in the ovary, which is called endometriosis. The blood can spread and increase in the ovary, possibly leading to cancer of the uterus,” she said.

Irregular menstruation is also common, Dr Khin Saw Hla said. Sometimes it can occur twice in a month and sometimes not at all but this is not normally a problem, she added.

“However, if someone menstruates after menopause, it can be dangerous and they should go to the doctors because it can also lead to cancer,” she said.

Heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women. In women, the condition is responsible for about 29 percent of deaths but the most alarming fact of heart disease is how many women are dying of it at a young age.

Osteoporosis is also a common problem and is particularly prevalent in women; 68pc of sufferers are women. Osteoporosis is largely preventable, however, and the behaviours that women develop in childhood, adolescence and early adult years play a significant role in the development of the disease as most bone mass builds up before the age of 30. However, it is never too late to maintain healthy bones and avoid fractures.