Women's health covers a wide range of areas beyond reproductive health, including heart disease (the leading cause of death in women as well as men, though symptoms can present differently), bone health, and mental wellbeing through different life stages.
Routine screening matters: cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer, and breast screening helps catch breast cancer early — both are offered by the NHS at set intervals and are well worth attending when invited. Hormonal changes through puberty, pregnancy, and the menopause can all affect physical and mental health significantly, and support and treatment are available for symptoms at every stage, so it's worth talking to a GP rather than assuming symptoms simply have to be endured.
See also our page on cancer for general warning signs worth knowing.
Common questions
Why does routine screening matter for women?
Cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer and breast screening helps catch breast cancer early. Both are well worth attending when invited.
Is heart disease only a concern for men?
No, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women as well as men, though symptoms can present differently.