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From sexual health and complications arising from fertility to mental health concerns and dietary requirements, women have a lot to contend with. Although females typically have a higher regard for medical visits and wellness than makes, there’s still a lot to challenge even the most prepared women when it comes to looking after her health.

Physical changes and excessive mental strain take their toll on female health. Dangerous drugs for women can make the results worse, even when they might seem like the answer to a common medical complaint. Being aware of potential side effects and why certain drugs, products, or devices should be avoided can help avoid unexpected health repercussions.

dangerous drugs for women

Common Health Concerns for Women

Women’s health concerns present more of a danger the older you get. To understand this, take a look at some statistics. For women ages 25 to 34:

  • Breast cancer is the 7th most common cause of death.
  • Cervical cancer is the 15th most common cause of death.
  • Ovarian cancer is the 27th most common cause of death.
  • Uterine cancer is the 37th most common cause of death.

However, just ten years later, the risk of death from female-specific cancers increases dramatically. For women ages 35 to 44:

  • Breast cancer is the 2nd most common cause of death.
  • Cervical cancer is the 12th most common cause of death.
  • Ovarian cancer is the 21st most common cause of death.
  • Uterine cancer is the 30th most common cause of death.

Since female-specific cancers and other types of women’s health concerns pose such a threat to our lives, it’s important to decrease their risk as much as possible. Unfortunately, some dangerous drugs for women can increase your risk of developing a disease. Contraception, acne, menstrual pain, vaginal freshness, serious uterine problems, organ prolapse, and urinary incontinence are all health concerns that can lead a woman to take a drug or receive a surgery that has dangerous side effects.

Contraception, acne, menstrual pain, vaginal freshness, serious uterine problems, organ prolapse, and urinary incontinence are all health concerns that can lead a woman to take a drug or receive a surgery that has dangerous side effects.

Problem Products, Devices and Dangerous Drugs for Women

Many drugs have negative side effects across a wide range of groups. For some drugs, devices, and personal hygiene products, however, women are at greater risk of an adverse reaction.

Concerns like ovarian cancer, vaginal issues, and complications from contraception all factor in to create a specific group of products that women, in particular, should be aware of.

Essure

The average age at which a woman opts for a permanent birth control method is 33. Essure is a female sterilization method that is less invasive than surgical methods. It involves small metal coils that are inserted into the Fallopian tubes. It can be performed in a doctor’s office with little anesthesia, rather than in a hospital.

However, the apparent convenience of Essure is misleading. It can, in fact, cause many unpleasant side effects, including:

  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Migration of the metal coils
  • Pelvic pain
  • Perforation of the uterus or fallopian tubes
  • Rash and itching due to nickel allergy
  • Unintended pregnancy

If you want a permanent birth control method, you would be much better off picking more traditional forms that don’t involve implants. In fact, regular tubal ligation can provide extra health benefits such as a decreased risk of ovarian cancer.

 

 

Transvaginal Mesh

As with dangerous drugs for women, dangerous medical devices can also be a major concern. Transvaginal mesh is a net-like device implanted into women’s pelvic floors to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

Both of these health concerns are caused by weak muscles and ligaments in the woman’s pelvic floor. Pelvic organ prolapse is when organs slip out of place, while stress urinary incontinence is the accidental leaking of urine during physical activity, coughing, sneezing, or laughing.

In 2016, the FDA reclassified transvaginal mesh from a moderate-risk device to a high-risk device. This is because it can cause the following side effects:

  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Mesh erosion
  • Organ perforation
  • Pain
  • Pain during sex
  • Urinary problems
  • Vaginal tissue erosion

Many of these complications require additional treatment to resolve. Many women even need to have multiple surgeries to correct the problems caused by transvaginal mesh. Tens of thousands of lawsuits have been filed by women who have suffered at the hands of transvaginal mesh. Alternatives to this device include Kegel exercises, pessaries, medications, bulking agents injected into pelvic tissues, and corrective surgeries that do not involve transvaginal mesh.

 

 

Talcum Powder

Among the current health concerns for women is talcum powder. Though not a dangerous drug for women, talcum powder is a common feminine health product used to solve a health concern. Talcum powder is a very soft powdered mineral, mined mostly in Eastern China. A woman may apply talcum powder to her vaginal or vulvar area to reduce chafing, rash, odor, or sweating.

Unfortunately, using talcum powder as an adult woman is linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Although there is not enough evidence to say that using talcum powder is a direct cause of the illness, there is definitely a link that should be paid attention. The studies that have demonstrated this link were large studies involving thousands of women. The results of the studies make sense given that talc is quite similar in structure to asbestos, an extreme carcinogen.

Aside from feminine health, using talcum powder can also cause lung issues. If the dust is inhaled, it can cause aspiration pneumonia and granuloma. Women should opt to use cornstarch-based baby powders rather than talc-based baby powders for the sake of their health.

 

Power Morcellators

A power morcellator is a device sometimes used during a hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus, or a myomectomy, the removal of fibroids from the uterus. These procedures are most commonly done on women ages 40 to 45. The morcellator is used to cut the tissue into smaller pieces for easier removal through the vagina. Though this is a less invasive tissue removal method than cutting open the abdomen in the short-term, in the long-term it presents some serious risks.

It has been found that the mechanical action of power morcellators often spreads cancerous cellular material throughout the body. This is because women who have a medical condition that requires a hysterectomy or a myomectomy are more like to have an undiagnosed cancer in that same area. Even if there are no cancerous cells in the woman’s uterus, the cells that remain after the uterus is morcellated can become parasitic.

There are also concerns about the potential for damage to the surrounding organs. These organs include the bowels, bladder, major vascular structures, pancreas, spleen, and ureters. If you require a hysterectomy or myomectomy, don’t let your doctor force you into a power morcellator removal. Although a proper surgery is more invasive, it is often less risky.

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