Gynecologist Lorena Serrano has just presented the book “Know yourself well, take care of yourself better”, a very complete manual for women of any age to better understand their body and sexuality and learn how to prevent risks and diseases. Her little big pills about women's health on her Instagram account have made her a big “influencer” with many young followers on this network.
At this moment, what is the most important gynecological health problem in the young generation?
During the reproductive season, one of the biggest problems is everything to do with menstruation and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). The human papillomavirus (HPV) circulates everywhere and chlamydia has a very high incidence in people under 25 years of age. Gonorrhea too. What I see in the consultation is that condom use is very inconsistent, they stop using it soon thinking that the relationship will be stable.
When should you go to a gynecological appointment for the first time?
The ideal is to do it when your period arrives to receive advice on the changes that may occur in your body and know what to expect, because the truth is that periods are very irregular at the beginning. And, above all, you should go when you start having sex, to know how to act to prevent STDs and find out about contraceptive methods.
Can urinary incontinence, a recurring female problem, also occur in women of this age?
Yes. But it's strange. Normally in these cases it is more associated with an injury during childbirth or the presence of previous pathologies. It is very common in adulthood and the truth is that until it appears we do not appreciate what the pelvic floor does for us. That's why prevention is so important.
And how can it be prevented?
Lifestyle is important. Avoid risk factors such as tobacco. And it is that chronic cough is a burden on our pelvic floor. Also overweight and obesity, which put pressure on you. Then there are other factors that we cannot control, such as pregnancy and childbirth or genetic factors and family predisposition to genital prolapse. But it is necessary to start taking care of the pelvic floor from an early age, for example, sitting correctly and taking care of the way we lift, paying attention to balancing our weight well so as not to overload the pelvic floor. You also have to contract well when we do sit-ups.
In gynecological aspects, women's problems and doubts are recurring despite the years, as if there were no treatments that could solve them. Haven't the advances in relation to other specialties been so spectacular?
It seems that in gynecology we have always been behind. It gives the feeling that historically he has never been very interested in everything related to women. We have, as an example, the taboo of menstruation. Something so common that it happens every month and is practically not talked about. Fortunately, little by little, there are problems that are becoming visible, such as menstrual pain and endometriosis. We hear more and more that it is not normal.
Do you think this change could be due to greater incorporation of women into the field of gynecology?
I think so because as doctors and, on top of that, as women, we have more empathy and a certain understanding. In any case, young women are no longer so shy when it comes to speaking. Medicine has also advanced. There are diseases that are very prevalent in women and there are many of us, which is why there is also an interest in developing certain treatments.
