Women's health: topics still discussed in whispers 

We live in the 21st century, but topics related to the female body, health, and well-being still remain taboo. For decades, women have been taught to tolerate and remain silent about discomfort, to hide physiological processes, and to put their own needs last. 

Severe pain during menstruation is NOT the norm

From the very beginning of menstruation, women hear phrases like: "It will hurt and stop, everyone suffers"Society normalizes menstrual pain, turning it into a necessity.

A healthy menstrual cycle can be accompanied by mild, tolerable discomfort. However, severe, sharp pain that requires regular painkillers and interferes with sleep is not normal.

Mental health: postpartum depression

Social media broadcasts the image of a smiling, happy mother. When reality turns out to be different, and instead of joy, a woman feels exhaustion, emptiness, apathy, or even fear, she is often left alone with her experiences. It is embarrassing to confess such feelings to her mother, husband, or friends, because in response you can often hear: "What, aren't you happy for the baby?", or "You're just lazy".

However, postpartum depression is not about selfishness and a lack of maternal instinct. It is a serious illness caused by many factors, including chronic sleep deprivation and a complete change in life. Blame and peer pressure only worsen this condition.

A woman who is faced with this does not need instruction, but the right to rest, a safe space without judgment, and the qualified help of a psychotherapist or psychiatrist. 

Climax and menopause

The topic of menopause is one of the most taboo. A woman who goes through this stage often feels ashamed. She feels that with the loss of reproductive function, she loses her social value or attractiveness.

Menopause is a natural but challenging period of transformation for the body. During this time, symptoms may appear that require attention and help from a doctor to alleviate them and reduce the risk of complications.

Behind all these taboos lies the enormous societal pressure imposed on women. Women were taught to be "comfortable," not to complain, and to put their needs last.

The price of this imposed shame is the untimely diagnosis of possible diseases that could have been prevented.

If you feel something is wrong with your body, don't ignore it. Don't let anyone make you doubt your own feelings.

If you have been a victim of domestic violence or gender discrimination, please contact the National Hotline for Prevention of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking and Gender Discrimination for advice and assistance:

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☎ 0 800 500 335

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This post was made possible by the support of the Norwegian people through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway (MFA of Norway) within the framework of the project “Building a Gender-Inclusive Recovery with the Women’s Movement of Ukraine” (GEN-Recovery). Responsibility for the content of the information lies with the NGO “La Strada-Ukraine”. The information presented in this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway or the Government of Norway.