Ah look, it’s that magical day again—International Women’s Day 2025, when gender equality gets a PR makeover.
That one day when brands enthusiastically promote pink-hued razors at a premium price (because apparently, empowerment comes in pastel shades), WhatsApp forwards about "Nari Shakti" flood our family groups, and HR sends out a "Dear Ma’am" email so generic, you can almost hear the copy-paste–spelling errors included. Cute. But you know what would be even cuter?
If we actually made women’s health issues the headline act, not an afterthought.
Why Celebrate Women’s Day 2025?
Look, celebrating Women’s Day is cool. It’s a global round of applause for merely existing in a world that, let’s be real, wasn’t exactly designed for us. But beyond the pastries (oh sorry, “complimentary desserts”) and token panels on ‘work-life balance,’ this should be a day to discuss something that impacts women daily: healthcare for women. Not just "eat-greens-and-take-supplement-for-women" healthcare, but "why-is-my-pain-being-dismissed" healthcare.
Why Is It Important to Talk About Women’s Health?
Because nobody else is talking about it enough! Women’s health issues have been belittled for centuries. Have period cramps so bad you can’t walk? "Take a painkiller or haldi-wala doodh and stop being dramatic." Feeling fatigued all the time? "Try yoga." Heavy bleeding? "That’s normal, dear." (Spoiler: It’s not. Get your iron levels checked.)
The truth is that women’s wellness isn’t just about reproductive organs. It’s about mental health, heart diseases (which, fun fact, present differently in women), autoimmune conditions that disproportionately affect women, and even how we metabolize medicine differently than men. But because medical research has historically been a boys' club, women are still playing catch-up.
And if you think that’s an exaggeration, consider childbirth. Ever wondered why most deliveries happen with women lying on their backs? Not because it’s easier for them, oh no. It’s because it’s convenient for doctors. That’s right—one of the most significant moments of maternal health is designed around what’s easiest for someone else. Research backs this up: the supine position became the norm thanks to European doctors centuries ago, even though squatting or upright positions are way more preferred by patients during actual labor. But hey, why prioritize the person literally pushing a human out?
If you’re a man reading this and feel a bit defensive, congratulations! You now know what it’s like to have your very real concerns brushed aside. Fun, isn’t it?
What Is Important in Women’s Health?
1. Women’s Mental Health
As per research, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from major depression. It’s not because we're "too emotional"(read as: it’s in our control), but because our biology, hormones, and society's unrealistic expectations all seem to conspire against us. When we do express distress, we're told to "relax" or "think positive." Sure, let’s just fix women’s depression with a few motivational quotes.
2. Reproductive and Maternal Health
PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids—ever heard of them? No? That’s because they take years to diagnose, thanks to a healthcare system that treats women’s health issues and pain as a personality trait. Oh, and birth control? We casually receive side effects like mood swings, weight gain, and nausea, and sometimes even serious conditions like increased risks of cervical and breast cancers; while the male pill was shelved because—wait for it—the test subjects didn’t like the side effects!
3. General Healthcare for Women
Women’s symptoms of heart attacks (the leading cause of death for women) don’t always look the same as men’s, yet most diagnostic tools are built for male bodies. It’s almost as if women’s health was an afterthought in medical research. Oh wait, it was.
4. Bone Health
Women are more prone to osteoporosis, yet no one tells them to start focusing on calcium and vitamin D early. But sure, let’s keep launching fairness serums with "skin-firming calcium" while ignoring that women’s actual bones are crying for help.
5. Autoimmune Diseases
Nearly 80% of people with autoimmune conditions are women. Why? No one really knows, because research funding is still catching up in women’s health initiatives. But go ahead, tell us again how we’re "just imagining" our symptoms.
What Are Women's Health Issues: The Mental Angle
Hormones do a number on women’s mental health. PMS, postpartum depression, perimenopause mood swings—it’s a circus. And yet, when women seek help, they often get a "Have you tried deep breathing?" instead of actual medical support.
Society also plays its part:
- Women are expected to "have it all," which mostly translates to "burn yourself out while making it look effortless."
- Caregiver mode is always on, so care for women is always last on the priority list.
- Medical gaslighting is real. If you’ve ever been told "It’s all in your head," congrats, you’ve experienced medical sexism.
Menstruation: The Monthly Masterclass in Endurance
Oh, where to begin? For something that happens to half the human race, periods are still treated as an inconvenience rather than a full-body event, yet again neglecting women’s wellness. Debilitating cramps? "Just take a painkiller." (As if that fixes the fact that some women literally pass out from the pain). Can’t concentrate? Mood swings? Society expects women to handle all that and excel at work and run a household and not complain. (Seriously, how are we all not exhausted 24/7?)
Menstruation isn’t just "that time of the month." It affects athletic performance, mental health, work productivity, and, in some places, whether a girl even gets to go to school. So yeah, maybe it’s time we talked about it like the serious issue in women’s health it is instead of a minor inconvenience that makes men uncomfortable.
What Is Good Menstrual Health?
- Knowing what’s normal for your cycle and spotting when something’s off.
- Understanding that excruciating period pain is NOT normal.
- Taking the right supplements for women: Iron, magnesium, and B vitamins can be game-changers.
- Workplace and school policies that acknowledge periods exist. Period leave isn’t a luxury; it’s basic decency.
- Having access to menstrual hygiene products that make women’s lives easier.
A New Standard of Care for Women Everywhere
Apparently, the unwritten rule of womanhood is: thou shalt suffer through rashes in silence. But Mahina—a brand made by women, for women—gets it. That’s why our period underwear isn’t just about convenience; it’s about care. Women already have enough battles to fight without adding chafing thighs, uncomfortable periods, and the irritation that comes with them to the list. Our period underwear is soft, breathable, and designed to work with your body, not against it—so that you don’t have to pay some sort of menstrual tax for the privilege of, you know, continuing the human race.
Period underwear isn’t just a product; it’s a quiet rebellion against discomfort and a full stop to the irritation we’ve been gaslit into accepting through decades of normalization, if not centuries. It replaces the endless cycle of frustration with something that actually respects women’s bodies, ultimately taking care of women’s health–one period at a time.
Sure, the upfront cost might make you pause, but let’s do some math—one pair lasts for years, saving both your wallet and your patience every month. And even if we set aside practicality (which, let’s be honest, we shouldn’t have to), women deserve a little luxury simply because we exist.
But here’s the bigger picture: Mahina isn’t just here to offer a solution; we’re here to start a conversation. This isn’t about one brand doing better—it’s about every brand, in every industry, designing with women in mind. We’ve spent too long adjusting ourselves to products that were never made for us in the first place. It’s time for companies—whether in fashion, healthcare, or even something as basic as office furniture—to start prioritizing women’s comfort, not as an afterthought, but as the standard.
If we can simplify one aspect of your life, we hope it urges others to do the same. At the very least, women should get to exist in comfort—if not in the world, then at least with themselves.
Let’s Celebrate Women’s Day 2025 The Right Way: By Demanding Better Facilities and Healthcare For Women
Women seeking proper medical care are treated as if they’re pushing some radical feminist agenda while in reality, it’s nothing more than a basic necessity. If a doctor dismisses your pain, insist on tests. If your gut says something’s wrong, get a second opinion. If you feel overlooked, demand answers. (Yes, it’s exhausting, but this is something we must push through.)
Beyond personal health, we need systemic change: more research funding. We need better medical education that includes female-specific symptoms, and policies that treat women’s health as a genuine priority.
This Women’s Day, let’s not just "celebrate" women, let’s fight for them. Because the ultimate power move? Being healthy enough to lead—and ensuring that the next generation doesn’t have to fight this same exhausting battle all over again.
Sources :
-Evolution of maternal birthing positions: https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/download/7184/22352/56964
-Upright positions considered better during labour: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613821000723#bib0021
-Historical evolution of labour positions: https://www.rfppl.co.in/subscription/upload_pdf/9323.3-1700741986.pdf
-Depression more prevalent in women: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4478054/
-Side effects of birth control pills; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/3977-birth-control-the-pill
-Hormonal birth control may increase risk of cancers in women: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet
-Why are there no birth control methods for men: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/11/03/500549503/male-birth-control-study-killed-after-men-complain-about-side-effects
-Women’s heart attack symptoms: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease/art-20046167
-Women are more prone to osteoporosis:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559156/
-Autoimmune diseases being disproportionately higher in women: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3328995/
-Multivitamins and supplements for women:
https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/periods/healthy-periods/exercise-diet-periods
