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Topics: Health, Women's Health, TikTok, Social Media, Periods
Lucy Devine
Topics: Health, Women's Health, TikTok, Social Media, Periods
A doctor has urged women never to ignore three symptoms despite some healthcare professionals claiming they are normal.
Most of us can relate to visiting the doctor with concerns, only to feel a little 'fobbed off'. Often it can feel as though women's health is overlooked and put down to hormones or even anxiety.
Now, an NHS doctor, Dr Raj Arora, explained that women are often dismissed with a range of symptoms, being told that it's 'part of being a woman'.
Dr Arora explained in a TikTok video that there are a number of symptoms that should be investigated and not brushed off as being normal.
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"This is the one thing we need to stop normalising in women's health," Dr Arora began.
"We need to stop normalising the idea that women need to 'put up with it'. I'm talking about your mental health, looking at things like the mental load that people carry.
"... I'm talking about reproductive health, issues with fertility for example, issues with not being able to conceive or being able to make informed decisions about whether you want a baby in the future or not."
Dr Arora claimed that all of these issues are put to the 'bottom of the agenda'.
"If you're a woman and someone's told you to just put up with it, not doing that in 2026. In 2026, we are not just putting up with anything, we're going to advocate for ourselves, we're going to ask questions, we're going to push for what we need.
"If we're feeling good and our health is good and we're feeling strong can we do the best for our families and our communities."
Dr Aurora explained that things like heavy periods, painful periods and pain outside of the menstrual cycle should not be ignored.
"Women's health concerns deserve to be listened to, taken seriously and properly investigated. We need to stop normalising suffering and start normalising better care," she added.
Dr Arora explained that if your period issues are being ignored, there are steps you can take.
"Number one, it's really important to understand that there is a gender health gap... women's pain historically and currently has been dismissed, symptoms have been undermined and there is a stigmatisation around women's health issues especially when it complements your cycle, periods and symptoms around reproductive health.
"You need to have an awareness around this, you need to understand that it exists and that you are able to advocate for yourself."
Dr Arora explained it's important to push for appointments, before going on to advise keeping a symptom diary and educating yourself around women's health.
"Join webinars, find out about community groups... you can learn from them, share your experiences with them," she added.