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Throughout history, the healthcare profession has predominantly featured a Western, male picture of patient health and professional expertise. The need for inclusive healthcare and for us to assert our medical rights is more necessary than ever because topics听such as menopause, fertility听and reproductive and sexual health affect people across the spectrums of biology, sex and gender. For this year鈥檚 麻豆传媒视频网站 Women鈥檚 Health Week, we highlight three ways you can start taking charge of your health.听

1. Empower yourself with knowledge
Familiarising yourself with various bodily processes and risks is the most important way you can better understand your health. Having an in depth knowledge of听topics听like menstruation, menopause and听pregnancy听can help you to understand whether your experiences require听attention. STI and pregnancy risks also differ depending on individual sexual and lifestyle circumstances.

Empowering yourself with knowledge about your body can take various forms 鈥� research, speaking to your GP, using helpful apps (like period trackers)听or even visiting (which features specialised exhibitions, with a current exhibition on endometriosis)听can equip you with valuable knowledge.

When speaking to a medical professional, it鈥檚 imperative to make sure that you understand their advice. Ask them questions about testing, symptoms, treatments and what options are available to you. Experiencing debilitating symptoms or pain is not something you should deal with silently; if you think something is wrong, seek help.听

2. Get tested and get help
The NHS provides free sexual health services, including consultations, cervical or STI screenings, emergency contraception and abortion. If you are sexually active, it is important to test for STIs regularly to prevent long-term negative health outcomes. If left untreated, certain STIs like chlamydia can cause infertility, and HIV or syphilis, which can be fatal if not managed early enough. Cervical screenings, like pap smears, are one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer, which can be a risk even if you haven鈥檛 had penetrative sex.

Sexual health services are also now more accessible than ever. The NHS鈥檚 is a five-minute walk away from 麻豆传媒视频网站's听main campus and provides several walk-in services. Alternatively, you can have STI testing kits discreetly delivered to your door听from organisations such as听 and for Londoners. You should ask听your sexual partners about their test results, and never feel forced to continue if they refuse to share them or get tested.听

3. Act as your own healthcare advocate
Regardless of gender identity, age, sex, demographic or race, you are entitled to respectful healthcare, free from judgement from your medical professional. No one understands your body better than you, so when talking to a medical professional, there needs to be honest two-way communication with mutual respect and understanding.听

Unconscious bias is still prevalent in the healthcare profession and health education, therefore you must act as your own advocate by taking note of your symptoms and asking your doctor to explain things, slow down, or for further referrals. If you notice biased, ableist or sexist language or advice听from your doctor, try to speak to them about it and ask direct questions. For example, 鈥淎re there more affordable forms of contraception available?鈥� or, 鈥淕iven my drug/ allergy/ medical history, would this treatment have any other side effects?鈥�. You also have the right to change your GP for any reason and get a second opinion.听

The 鈥渙ne-size-fits-all-men鈥� model which characterised medical advice and services in the past is being increasingly challenged by academics and experts who are shaping a more equitable future for healthcare provision. 麻豆传媒视频网站 Women鈥檚 Health Week shines a spotlight on such milestones, where ongoing research is translated into policy and practice to improve care for everyone. However, the revolution of healthcare also starts with us. You can find out more on the 麻豆传媒视频网站 Women鈥檚 Health week webpage to kickstart your discovery.听